Executive Summary- Wal-Mart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Executive Summary- Wal-Mart - Essay Example Sam Walton’s key growth strategy for Wal-Mart was to open stores in isolated rural areas and small towns typically with populations of 5,000 to 25,000 that all the other major discount chains were ignoring and provide them with goods and services at competitive prices. This way Wal-Mart was able to tap into the market segment that previously had to drive up to four hours away to the cities to do their shopping. However, this preference for rural areas meant that Wal-Mart had to endure a more costly distribution channel than its competitors. To mitigate against this weakness, Sam Walton took the company public in 1972 to raise the capital required for Wal-Mart to build its own warehouses to serve its â€Å"boondocks† stores (Bradley & Ghemawat, 2002) and thus lower its cost of goods sold. In the 80s Wal-Mart finally came of age. It opened its now phenomenal Sam’s Club members-warehouse store in 1983, its first Supercenter in 1988, and by the end of that decade it had revenues in excess of US $26 billion from 1,402 Wal-Mart stores and 123 Sam’s Clubs. Company key facts Presently, Wal-Mart operates in three business segments: Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club in the United States, and Wal-Mart International in 14 countries and Puerto Rico. Its retail stores are organized under 53 different banners across the world. It has a workforce of 2.1 million associates worldwide who serve customers and members more than 200 million times per week. In the fiscal year 2010 the company achieved sales of US $405 billion. (â€Å"Walmartstores.com: About Us,† 2011). Products and services Wal-Mart U.S. is a one-stop shop. It has divided its business into six strategic merchandise units across its various store formats namely: grocery, entertainment, hardlines, apparel, health and wellness and home merchandise. Within these merchandise units there is an array of products and services to be found. In addition to that, Wal-Mart U.S. segment also offers financial services and products, markets lines of merchandise under its private-label store brands – such as Parent’s Choice, Great Value, No Boundaries, etc. – and also markets lines of merchandise under licensed brands such as Disney, Black & Decker, Just My Size etc. (â€Å"Wal Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N) Company Profile | Reuters.com,† 2011). Sam’s Club also offers its membership a collection of products and services online at www.samsclub.com. Company’s vision statement and purpose Wal-Mart has continued to embody within its corporate culture the vision of its founder, Sam Walton, who came up with the organization’s purpose: â€Å"If we work together, we’ll lower the cost of living for everyone†¦we’ll give the world an opportunity to see what it’s like to save and have a better life.†(Farfan, n.d.). This belief has been engrained into the organization through unique sets of best practices that are carried out daily within Wal-Mart. For example managers are encouraged to be open and accessible to all employe es through the open door policy, questions from anyone – supplier, customer or employee – need to be answered on the same day (the sundown rule), and associates must make eye contact, greet and offer help to customers who come within a ten feet radius (the 10 foot rule). The open door policy makes Wal-Mart’s associates to feel appreciated and thus increases their commitment to better customer service. The sundown rule ensures that there is a quick turnaround of solutions to solve any