Merc Strategy Business Strategy and Guidance

The R1.9 billion cash trap that blindsided SPAR. Could it hit your business?

Working capital, the cash flow between paying suppliers and collecting from customers, caused SPAR's R1.9 billion debt surge.

By Strategy October 1, 2026 4 min read

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Turnarounds

Starbucks almost collapsed under its own complexity. Here's how it recovered.

By Strategy September 29, 2026 5 min read

The coffee giant became a 'food-service labyrinth' with endless options, driving customers away and profits down. Discover the radical simplification that saved it.

Post-Mortems

A single warehouse cost SPAR R123 million. Here's how it happened.

By Strategy September 19, 2026 6 min read

SPAR's centralized distribution model promises efficiency, but a single KZN warehouse exposed its critical vulnerability, leading to a staggering R123 million loss. What went wrong?

Business Models

Why Nike walked away from Amazon: the real cost of bad partners.

By Strategy September 17, 2026 5 min read

Nike's bold move revealed how short-sighted channel strategies erode brand value. Learn why focusing on partner purpose is crucial for sustained demand.

Unit Economics

Why SPAR's massive Black Friday sales actually cost them millions.

By Strategy September 6, 2026 5 min read

The retail giant saw trolleys full and queues long, yet deep discounts eroded R212 million from their operating profit. Was it a failure of measurement?

Business Models

Nike admits its direct-to-consumer strategy was a mistake

By Strategy September 5, 2026 5 min read

After years of pushing DTC, Nike is now scaling back, realizing that widespread wholesale distribution offers more reach and revenue than higher direct margins.