Walmart Study - sfsfsf PDF

Preview

Summary

sfsfsf...

Description

1

Walmart Study Name: Institution Name: Course code and Name: Professor Name: Date:

2

Introduction: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., branded as Walmart is an American multinational retail corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's second largest public corporation, according to the Fortune Global500 list in 2013, the biggest private employer in the world with over two million employees, and is the largest retailer in the world. Walmart remains a family-owned business, as the company is controlled by the Walton family, who own over 50 percent of Walmart. It is also one of the world's most valuable companies. The company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962, incorporated on October 31, 1969, and publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. It is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmart is also the largest grocery retailer in the United States. In 2009, it generated 51 percent of its US$258 billion sales in the U.S. from grocery business. It also owns and operates the Sam's Club retail warehouses in North America. Walmart has over 11,000 stores in 27 countries, under 55 different names. The company operates under the Walmart name in the United States, including the 50 states and Puerto Rico. It operates in Mexico as Walmart de México y Centro America, in the United Kingdom as Asda, in Japan as Seiyu, and in India as Best Price. It has wholly owned operations in Argentina, Brazil, and Canada. Walmart's investments outside North America have had mixed results: its operations in the United Kingdom, South America, and China are highly successful, whereas ventures in Germany and South Korea were unsuccessful.

3

Retail goods Walmart offers retails goods in a variety of categories. Customers can buy electronic products such as MP3 players, digital cameras, printers, laptops and computers. Walmart offers music downloads, movies, books and jewelry. In addition to home furnishings, the retailer also offers baby products, sporting goods and grocery items. Photo Services Walmart offers photo lab services inside stores and online. Customers can drop off their photographs for developing via a store kiosk. They can also upload their digital photos via the corporate website. Pick up photos at a store location or have them sent to a home address. The photo lab offers customers the option to develop the prints in an hour. Pharmacy In 2006, Walmart began offering customers prescriptions for a mere $4. This practice was significant, with many retailers following suit. The company estimates savings to customers total $3 billion since the program's inception. Walmart offers monthly prescriptions for pickup in-store or mail order services for long-term medications. The savings are due in large part to Walmart's catalog of over 300 generic medications available for $4 in-store or $10 for a 90-day supply. Financial Services Walmart offers several financial services. These include credit cards, debit cards, bill payment, money transfers, check cashing and check printing. Walmart offers a store credit card without an annual fee. Obtain a debit card in-store or online. Walmart offers money transfer services through

4

MoneyGram, starting at $4.75. Customers can also purchase money orders and gift cards, send bill payments, order printed checks and cash checks for fees starting at $3. Wireless Service Walmart partnered with service provider T-Mobile to offer wireless phone service. The Walmart Family Talk Wireless service provides customers with a family plan for unlimited text and voice calls. The service requires no traditional yearly contract and plans start at $45 Branding Strategy: In 2004, 18.5 percent of its revenues derived from their foreign operation, and the trend shows that its foreign market dependence is steadily increasing (Wal-Mart 2004 Annual Report). In both domestic and international operations, it uses two names, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club. This simplified naming and operation means its adoption of a standardization global strategy and its importance in global marketing strategies. When it enters a foreign country, it makes necessary such as merchandise offerings. However, it does not main ingredients, even in foreign markets. They are names - everyday low price strategy, and high ethical standards. By using only the two names described above (everyday low price strategy, and high ethical standards), it develops a global brand like IBM, Coke or Intel. Wal-Mart means everyday low price and value. In all countries, a large group of consumers is concerned about value and merchandise variety. There is enough of this type of consumer to encourage Wal-Mart to expand its operation to the global market.

5

High ethical standards are very difficult to maintain in foreign countries where different standards exist. For instance, when Wal-Mart enters a certain country, it may be asked to provide a “political donation” as a condition of approval. If it refuses the donation, it will lose its market. If Wal-Mart refuses to make the donation, it will maintain its high ethical standards and clean image. Companies can learn from these examples and try to effectively develop, enforce and promote a Global Brand for their product and services offerings. Yes, Walmart crowd sources. Walmart Inc. is piloting new grocery technology that uses crowdsourcing to lower the costs of last-mile delivery while offering drivers more flexible schedules. Yes, they use private label branding. With the private label war still going strong, Walmart continues to come to the battlefield armed with a growing array of branded products.

6

References: http://www.marketing91.com/marketing-mix-walmart/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walmart JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES VOL. 21, NO. 3, SUMMER 2007 (pp. 177-198) Artz, G.M., McConnon, J.C., Jr., 2001. The impact of Wal-Mart on host towns and surrounding communities in Maine. Working paper. Office of Social and Economic Trend Analysis, Iowa State University. Available at http://www.seta.iastate.edu/retail/ publications/artz_narea_paper.pdf (as of September 7, 2005). Basker, E., 2005a. Selling a cheaper mousetrap: Wal-Mart’s effect on retail prices. Journal of Urban Economics 58, 203–229....