1- Why did Gateway choose not to carry any finished-product inventory at its retail stores? and Why did Apple choose to carry inventory at its stores?
2-Should a firm with an investment in retail stores carry any finished-goods inventory?
3- What are the characteristics of products that are most suitable to be carried in finished-goods inventory?
4- What characterizes products that are best manufactured to order?
5-How does product variety affect the level of inventory a retail store must carry? Is a direct selling supply chain without retail stores always less expensive than a supply chain with retail stores?
6-What factors explain the success of Apple retail and the failure of Gateway country stores?