...Walmart’s Global Expansion 1 How does expanding internationally benefit Walmart? After its beginning in 1962 Walmart ever since had constant growth rates and successfully gained market share in the merchandise and food retailing markets. “By 1990, however, Walmart realized that its opportunities for growth in the United States were becoming more limited”. To keep steady growth rates and profits the company decided to expand globally. The core competency of Walmart is the price. Selling merchandise and food for low prices made them earn market shares and continue the growth rates. Going global gives companies the opportunity of using location economies to secure the quality, use economy of scale to lower the productions costs per unit and benefit from learning effects. A global supply chain and global markets will lower the production costs since more volume is ordered following a higher demand trough international markets. Especially for Walmart expanding internationally supports and secures their core competency: Selling everyday life goods at a low price. 2 What are the risks that Walmart faces when entering other retail markets? How can these risks be mitigated? The strategy for success worked very well in the United States. That does not mean that it works very well in other countries. There are different preferences and consumer patterns in different countries. Adding to that Walmart may face strong competition from already established retailers that have a...
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...Introduction We finally choose Sweden as Walmart’s next expansion location as the CAGE analysis shows that Sweden is the most appropriate country to locate the new hypermarket. Sweden is a developed western country that has many similarities with US in culture, administration and economy. Sweden has a highly-developed capitalist economic system, a stable political environment and few corruption, which provides a stable external environment for Walmart’s entry and continuous operation. Its well-developed infrastructures and transportation also make it easier for Walmart to establish its own distribution system. Also people in Sweden have strong purchasing power and consumption ability as they have long been high income group in the world. When a good deal presents, people will not hesitate to make a purchase. This stable purchasing power guarantees a potentially stable profit for Walmart. Sweden also has a large pool of highly educated and well trained work force, making it quite easy for Walmart to staff its operation. As for the mode of entry, we recommend choosing to establish a joint venture with local partners as Sweden is a fully liberalized economy that has removed obstacles preventing free flow of trade and investment. Mature investors and partners in Sweden can share similar modes of business operation, similar management style and similar accounting policies with this US retail giant. By making use of this legal form of association and partnership, Walmart can explore...
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...for everyone we’ll give the world an opportunity to see what it is like to save and have a better life”(Walton S.) Walmart’s company culture includes a list of values and beliefs it establishes through its management and employee relations. The company’s marketing efforts are to establish awareness that they are the price leaders in their market. In recent times, the company has focus on becoming involved more in local communities by charity and service. With the general instability of the global economy, corporations like to play it safe; Walmart is an example of a multinational which is making a bold move. Acquiring South African grocery chain Massmart offered Walmart a safe foothold to prepare for the next step, which is continental expansion. South Africa is arguably the most westernized country in Africa. Western companies in general perceive it as easier to do business there than in other African nations. II. SWOT ANALYSIS The SWOT analysis of Walmart shows that the company can have higher long-term success potential through aggressive global expansion, especially in retail markets in developing countries. Strengths: Walmart’s strengths are all related to the size of its business. These strengths enable the company to withstand threats despite its weaknesses. Walmart’s strengths for further global growth are: • Huge and loyal customer base • Global organizational size • Strong employee base • Strong financial position • Low price strategy, special buy and roll...
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...Abstract Walmart is one of the world’s largest and most well-known retailers in the world today. It has achieved great success in areas like Mexico and Canada; however it has also seen failures in other areas like Germany and Hong Kong. This paper will discuss a brief history of Walmart’s global expansions and the strategies it chose to enter these markets. It will answer the following specific questions: When did Walmart enter the global expansion? What international markets did Walmart enter? What cultural challenges has Walmart faced? How did Walmart overcome these challenges? Where future expansions and opportunities are possible? To answer these questions, this paper will have four basic sections: A brief history of Walmart’s global expansion, what was their strategy with each expansion, cultural differences they faced, and where is Walmart going in the future. This paper will attempt to examine the strategies of its global expansion and how it used the challenges to continue success in future expansions. Walmart is the most well-known and largest retailer in the world today; with sales worth more than $200 billion, $35 billion of that from Walmart’s International Division. The company grew incredibly fast both in the United States and abroad. By tweaking entry modes, and studying the cultural differences and local threats, the core business strategies Walmart chose to build its business on in America would prove a great success in other countries...
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...WALMART SUCCESS IN MEXICO, CANADA AND CHINA: GLOBAL EXPANSION, STRATEGIES, ENTRY MODES, THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES Lee Yee Mun B1000922 Help College Of Arts and Technology Bachelor of Science in Collaboration with Southern New Hampshire University, USA lemon_0611@hotmail.com Rashad Yazdanifard Faculty of Management, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya, Malaysia. rashadyazdanifard@yahoo.com 1 ABSTRACT Global expansion has been gaining a lot of attention. There are many important factors to be considered in the decision-making process such as business strategies, entry modes, and threats and opportunities in the markets. Appropriate strategies will minimize the risk of failure in international markets. The right business strategies and entry modes employed will increase the firm’s chances of success and influence the future of the retailer. Key words: global expansion, business strategies, entry modes, threats, opportunities, Walmart 1. Introduction The internalization of the retail industry has been researched widely, and majority of these studies have described the motivations and scales for international expansion by retailers (Akehurst & Alexander, 1995; Williams, 1992). Many models of internalization explains the sequence of foreign expansion, showing that companies who go international will do better in foreign markets that are similar to their domestic markets. This was why Walmart chose to enter the markets of Canada and Mexico (Johanson...
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... Assessments of market conditions in both countries have been conducted in terms of country competitiveness, cultural, political and legal environments and the strategies used by Walmart upon entry. Tying into these international business factors, specific aspects of international economic integration, monetary systems, social responsibility and corruption have also been reviewed. While being part of one continent and a common trade bloc (NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement), considerable differences between Canada and Mexico are apparent. These differences are individually analyzed on the following pages. Inevitably, they are best understood in the context of the two countries' long-standing economic and cultural ties to Walmart's home country, the United States of America. Walmart gained enormous success under its current low-price business model in both Canada and Mexico; therefore it is recommended that Walmart maintain its current strategy of delivering products at everyday low prices in both countries....
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...Context: 1. Introduction 2 2. Background of Wal-Mart stores Inc. 3 3. Retail organization internatinalization expension 4 4. International Expansion of Wal-Mart in Maxico,china and canada 5 5. Comparison of Entry Modes 6 6. comparison of Opportunities 7 7. Final touch 8 8. Conclusion 9 9.Bibliography 10 1. Introduction: Being present and having to enter foreign markets is for many companies natural, while for other it is a new challenge that they have to face. This challenge, known as market entry, consists of three major decisions: where to enter, when to enter and how to enter different markets. Some companies are forced to internationalize in the early stages of their life due to small saturated home markets, while other companies choose to go abroad because of the great opportunities new markets might bring (Peng, 2006). Once deciding to go abroad and choosing the target market and timing, companies' need to consider the choice of entry modes. Generally, to choose international firm there are six different entry modes: exporting, turnkey projects, licensing, franchising, joint ventures, wholly owned subsidiary (Hill, 2004). Each entry mode its distinctive characteristics (see, e.g., Hill, 2004; Hill, et al, 1990; Hill and kim, 1988; Anderson and Gatignon, 1986; Madhok, 1997; Brouthers and Brouthers, 2000; Bishop 2006. Selecting a suitable entry mode is a difficult decision for firms interested in entering a foreign market (Agarwal and Ramaswami, 1992). Sometimes...
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...Walmart’s African Expansion Case Study 2 Case Study Author: Karen Robson, Stefanie Beninger Presented to: Dr. Doreen Sams Analyst Name: Joe Slade Date Submitted: September 28, 2014 Contents Introduction 1 The Eclectic Paradigm and African Expansion 2 Conclusion 3 References: 4 Introduction Walmart had humble beginnings. The first store was opened in Rogers Arkansas in 1962 by Sam Walton. Sam Walton wanted to have a store that provided as many items as possible but doing so in a low price way. By 1967 the Walton family owned 24 stores, ringing up $12.7 million in sales. During 1970, Walmart went public. In 1972 the company was listed on the New York Stock exchange. By 1980 the company had 276 stores in 11 states under the Wal-Mart banner. Through a joint venture with Cifra, a Mexican retail company, Walmart went global, opening a Sam’s Club in Mexico City in 199. This marked the first foray into global expansion (Walmart Corporate Site, 2014). However, not all expansion into foreign countries went well. When Walmart decided to enter the German market in 1997, they did so by buying two retail store chains, Werkauf and Interspar. This was a difficult expansion process as neither one of these companies operated like Walmart. Walmart had issues with their distribution network and the German people were not used to shopping at a big box store like Walmart (Robson, Beninger, 2013). This did not deter Walmart into the global expansion...
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...Walmart’s Global Strategies Jennifer D. Wright National American University: Management Across Cultures 1 March 2015 Abstract Walmart is one of the world’s largest and most well-known retailers in the world today. It has achieved great success in areas like Mexico and Canada; however it has also seen failures in other areas like Germany and Hong Kong. This paper will discuss a brief history of Walmart’s global expansions and the strategies it chose to enter these markets. It will answer the following specific questions: When did Walmart enter the global expansion? What international markets did Walmart enter? What cultural challenges has Walmart faced? How did Walmart overcome these challenges? Where future expansions and opportunities are possible? To answer these questions, this paper will have four basic sections: A brief history of Walmart’s global expansion, what was their strategy with each expansion, cultural differences they faced, and where is Walmart going in the future. This paper will attempt to examine the strategies of its global expansion and how it used the challenges to continue success in future expansions. Walmart is the most well-known and largest retailer in the world today; with sales worth more than $200 billion, $35 billion of that from Walmart’s International Division. The company grew incredibly fast both in the United States and abroad. By tweaking entry modes, and studying the cultural differences and local threats...
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...Running head: GLOBAL HUMAN RESOURCES 1 Global Human Resources: How to create a successful global presence to insure the success of an organization in meeting its goals and mission Student Name University Name Class Name Professor Name Date GLOBAL HUMAN RESOURCES 2 Global Human Resources: How to create a successful global presence to insure the success of an organization in meeting its goals and mission Walmart achieved great success with their “Every Day Low Prices” strategy. Through supplier negotiations, Walmart has enjoyed high profits resulting in their ability to maintain low operational costs and it turn, pass that savings on to their customers. While the company’s success was largely attributed to Walmart’s ability to maintain low prices and provide exceptional customer service, they also depended on their revolutionary internal distribution process (Farhoomand, 2006). At the time of their opening in Shenzhen, the biggest challenge Walmart faces were the 700 chain store companies that were already operating in China. Until 2005 when China officially lifted distribution restrictions for foreign companies, Walmart had been forced to rely on Chinese suppliers to outfit their stores. Brief analysis Walmart’s US supply chain includes their own distribution warehouses that are strategically located within a one-day drive of the stores it served, a Walmart-owned trucking fleet that was solely responsible for the physical distribution of inventory, and a robust information...
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...Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, US, and Canada represent Walmart’s influence globally. Walmart employees 2.2 million people worldwide with 1.3 million in the US alone. At the end of fiscal 2013, Walmart’s domestic sales were $466.1 billion and international sales were 135 billion making Walmart number 2 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies by revenue (Walmart, 2013). Walmart’s internationalization ratio is 29%, outlining the percentage of international sales of total sales. International sales, as a percentage of total sales, are up roughly 5% since 2010 when international sales were 24.7% of total sales (Walmart, 2010). Walmart’s international presence is growing through expansion and a more multinational mindset. Walmart espouses a multinational mentality. Although the company realizes the need to have an efficient business model, the thought is “we sell what customers want” meaning that Walmart treats the different regions of the world as local domestic markets (Pennsylvania State University, 2013). As Walmart enters emerging markets, obstacles arise with integration and expansion. Multinational Strategy and Market Entry Mode Walmart’s multinational strategy of selling what customers want can often be a challenging undertaking. When Walmart chose to expand onto the African continent, it realized that working with existing...
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...Walmart: Global Strategic Expansion - Executive Summary Since introducing its first international store in 1991, Walmart has transformed itself from an American retail giant into a global one, leveraging a wealth of resources to strategically expand operations. Although Walmart must contend with several formidable competitors, the retailer has successfully opened thousands of stores across the globe; most frequently, it has added international units through the acquisition of foreign retailers, which simultaneously reduces its competition and furthers its dominance. Walmart has differentiated itself by coupling its understanding of political, economic, legal, and cultural systems within target markets with its low-cost, high-quality approach to mass retail. Utilizing simultaneous strategic multiple thrusts, Walmart has developed layers of competitive advantage to establish itself as the world’s leading retailer. Focusing on strategic expansion, Walmart currently operates 9,826 stores across twenty-eight countries, allowing it to capture global scale efficiencies by creating a coordinated and integrated network of interdependent stores. Each unit within its network is regarded as a source of ideas and capabilities, and innovation is diffused across the company through initiatives such as a market-by-market training program that helps increase the company’s responsiveness to local demands and preferences. Thus, Walmart has established itself as a transnational corporation by developing...
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...Management Information Systems 13e KENNETH C. LAUDON AND JANE P. LAUDON CHAPTER 2 GLOBAL E-BUSINESS: HOW BUSINESSES USE INFORMATION SYSTEMS Walmart’s Retail Link Supply Chain CASE 1 VIDEO CASE Systems SUMMARY An introduction to Walmart’s Retail Link system, one of the largest B2B supply-chain systems in the world. Retail Link connects consumer purchase data to the Walmart purchasing system and to vendor supply systems. Retail Link plays a key role in Walmart’s corporate strategy to become the dominant low-cost provider of retail goods. L=7:13. URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUe-tSabKag CASE Walmart is a well-known leader in the application of network technology to coordinate its supply chain. Walmart’s supply chain is the secret sauce behind its claim of offering the lowest prices everyday. It’s able to make this promise because it has possibly the most efficient B2B supply chain in the world. It doesn’t hurt to also be the largest purchaser of consumer goods in the world. With sales of more than $443 billion for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2012, Walmart has been able to use information technology to achieve a decisive cost advantage over competitors. As you might imagine, the world’s largest retailer also has the world’s largest supply chain, with more than 60,000 suppliers worldwide. In the next five years, the company plans to expand from around 5,000 retail stores in the United States (including Sam’s Clubs)...
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...Finance Assessment 2 – Individual Case Analysis Case Analysis Walmart’s Expansion in Africa: A New Exploration Strategy Submitted by: Pharin Chhodarangsey (Kevin) 001MG715 Date of Submission: November 4th, 2015 Submitted to: Dr. Rachaniphorn Ngotngamwong 1 Table of Contents I. Introduction 3 I. 1 Company Background 3 II. Case Analysis 3 1. Detail the growth of Walmart and its international experience. 3 2. Describe the growth strategies of Massmart in the African Continent. 5 3. Detail Walmart’s acquisition of Massmart and expected strategic advantages.5 4. Analyses the challenges Walmart have to face in the African Continent. 6 5. What happened to Walmart’s operations after taking 51% share in Massmart in 2011? 7 References 2 I. Introduction I. 1 Company Background Walmart Stores, Inc., is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of discount department stores and warehouse stores. Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, United States, the company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962 and incorporated on October 31, 1969. (Winston-Salem Journal, 2010) From the humble beginnings as a small discount retailer in Rogers, Ark., Walmart has opened thousands of stores in the United States and expanded internationally. Through the model of business global expansion, which brings the right store formats to the communities that need...
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...Walmart’s Global Challenge, November 2014 Executive Summary Walmart Stores, Inc. is the world's largest retailer whose mission is “to help people around the world save money and live better -- anytime and anywhere -- in retail stores, online and through their mobile devices” (Corporate Walmart2, 2014, p.1). Samuel Walton founded Walmart in 1962 as a small chain of stores in rural towns and today Walmart is a multi-national retail corporation with “11,100 stores under 71 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries” (Corporate Walmart2, 2014, p.3). Walmart Stores topped Fortune Magazine’s “Fortune 500” list for 2014. “For fiscal year 2014, Walmart’s net sales totaled $473.1 billion, up 1.6% from the year-earlier period” (Fortune, 2014, p.1). Walmart is a publically traded company, with the second and third generation Walton family owning 51% of Walmart’s shares via a family holding company called Walton Enterprises LLC (Yahoo Finance, 2014, p.1). Walmart has enjoyed unprecedented growth in the span of 52 years, even in the face of negative publicity and threats from competitors like Family Dollar and Amazon. Walmart’s CEO, Doug McMillon, has laid out strategies to reduce their reliance on physical stores as they move towards expanding the e-commerce aspect of their company and on improving their overseas expansion plans. His four-part growth strategy provides the framework to enable a “company prepared to win on four key customer dimensions – price...
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