L'Atelier Art Lounge: Times of Uncertainty Case Solution And Analysis, HBR Case Study Solution & Analysis of Harvard Case Studies

The CEO and founder of L’Atelier Art Lounge, an art workshop, encounters various challenges on January 31, 2014, when she has to decide about the lease of one of her outlets. The founder has succeeded to expand its outlets in Bahrain and Lebanon, but now the challenge, including not only to expand the business, but how to achieve a reasonable work-life balance, she has to face.

She immediately opened an outlet in Beirut as she closed one of her outlet in Bahrain caused by the political instability associated with the Arab Spring. Although, this market segment has a huge potential because of less availability of such leisure activities for children, so this educational entertainment was highly appreciated by the parents, schools and adults who were looking to enhance their skills.

Her store at Beirut experienced a dramatic decrease in customers due to diffusing violence from Syria that caused many people to migrate from Lebanon. She has the deadline of only one day to decide about the lease of one of her outlets to renew. However, this limit explores numerous opportunity for him to consider strategically: would it be better for her to market her concept to increase the market share and ultimately her profit, which would also improve the cash flow of her business, exploring the appropriate financial resources either bank loans or investors, or just to shut the outlet that has suffered from this decline of revenue?

The authors, Randa Salamoun and Bettina Bastian, have affiliation with American University of Beirut.