Zippers are a specialty item that is not marketed directly to consumers yet make up an integral part of the piece of clothing, bags, luggage, or similar items.

While the zipper industry is relatively obscure, it is also large, with annual sales in between $7 and 13 billion (U.S.), with a CA...

• YKK's financial statements reveal slow but steady growth through the years.
• Dating back 20 years, the operating profits of the fastening business fluctuated between 11% and 16%.
• All of its employees participate in th...

Rarely does a company sustain its global industry leadership for more than a few decades, and most that do so are very well-known global brands.

Organizational longevity relates to how well a firm succeeds across different markets over time, irrespective of its original objectives and found...

YKK stands for the Japanese zipper manufacturer Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha, which roughly translates to Yoshida Company Limited. YKK, founded in 1934, manufactures and produces approximately 10 billion zippers a year.

It has impressively, and quietly, remained the market leader ...

Adopting new cultural customs, norms, and traditions means acquiring new cultural knowledge and experiences, and learning and using new languages.

Focusing on local even manifests itself in different operations within one country. YKK successfully integrated its traditional Japanese values ...

YKK goes to great lengths to connect with stakeholders on a local, community, and global level.

A key part of stakeholder engagement is giving back to the community and operating in a sustainable fashion.

By virtue of its corporate values, YKK is further ahead than most in integrating...

• The YKK case illustrates that diversification may be a good business move but it can come with downsides and other risks.
• Building a highly visible brand is conducive to staying on top or is it better to keep a low profile? The YKK story shows us that being visible to the public and ...