...1. Do you think Walmart could translate its merchandising strategy wholesale to an other country and succeed? I do think Wal-Mart could translate its merchandising strategy to another country, but it would depend on the country. While Walmart might be able to successfully operate in some countries, it might fail in some. For instance, Wal-Mart translated its merchandising strategy whole sale to both Mexico and China and succeeded and yet they failed in South Korea and Germany. To succeed in a certain country, Walmart needs to understand the country’s culture, their customer’s purchasing habits and preferences as well as do some research on their competitors in that country before they enter into a new market. Without taking all these into consideration and adjusting their strategy to the particular market, Walmart could fail in that country. 2.Why do you think Walmart was successful in Mexico? When Walmart hit some headwinds in Mexico, they quickly discovered the differences between shoppers in Mexico and the US which is why WalMart adjusted its strategy to meet the country’s local conditions, first by hiring local managers who understood Mexican culture, and then letting those managers control merchandising strategy, building smaller stores that people could walk to, and offering more fresh produce. At the same time, the company believed that it could gradually change the shopping culture in Mexico, educating consumers by showing them the benefits of its American merchandising...
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...1) Walmart has already shown the ability to translate its merchandising strategies to other countries successfully. Mexico is a perfect example. This, however, takes time to do. They learned that in order to succeed initially they need to make adjustments to their merchandising strategies to fit the culture of the country they are in. Once they have done so, they can educate consumers about the benefits of the American merchandising culture. Some countries will not be willing to change their culture. But if Walmart continues to approach change the way they have they will continue to find success in countries willing to open up to change. 2) Walmart was successful in Mexico because it adapted to the Mexican culture and over time introduced them to the benefits of the American culture. When they first opened and tried to operate the American way without understanding the Mexican culture they quickly realized that when international businesses are ill-informed about the practices of another culture they are likely to fail. (1) They had to play by the Mexican rules if they wanted to succeed. International businesses need to consider employing local citizens to help them do business in a particular culture. (2) They hired managers who were familiar with the Mexican culture and allowed them to control the merchandising. This was extremely beneficial to their success. They learned that smaller stores within walking distance and changing the things they offered that best...
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...Walmart’s Foreign Expansion Walmart store Inc, is the largest retail company in the United States, has built its success on a strategy of everyday low prices and highly efficient operations, logistics, and information system that keep inventory to a minimum and ensure against both overstocking and understocking. Walmart began its international expansion in the early 1990s to grow their company’s commission. They first teamed in a joint venture with Cifra, Mexico’s largest retailer, to open a series of supercenters that sell both groceries and general merchandise in Mexico. Although they faced some challenges, such as understanding their culture and buying preferences, they quickly managed to change their marketing and merchandising strategies to meet the local conditions. As they built up their distribution systems in Mexico, the Mexicans started to change their shopping habits, and now Walmart is Mexico’s largest retailer and Mexico is considered to be the company’s most successful foreign venture. Walmart continued its international expansion by establishing operations in Europe and South Korea, however the company had less success. Consumers in Europe and South Korea, seemed to have a preference for higher-quality merchandise and were not as attracted to Walmart discount strategy as consumers were in United States and Mexico. Regardless of how, Walmart had greater success in China where they have learned to adapt the Chinese culture and changed their merchandise and operations...
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...Wal-Mart’s efforts in Germany and South Korea with its operation in China? After more than a decade, Wal-Mart left Germany failing to become the popular “Everyday Low Prices” all in one shopping spot as it is in the U.S. Walmart has also failed abroad in other countries such as South Korea. There were only 16 stores in South Korea and was eventually sold out to a Korean discount chain, Shinsegae, for $882 million dollars. Reasons why Wal-Mart fails in these countries occur from the lack of strategic plan, other than the duplication of the U.S. strategy. The strategy of low prices, keen inventory control, and a huge selection of goods was not a success in German and Korean markets. The culture was also a factor that Wal-Mart needed to consider and alter their strategy before entering Germany and South Korea. For example, in Germany the company had American managers that like in the U.S. offer to bag groceries while Germans like to bag their own groceries. Also, the customer service was translated into being overly friendly with customers where smiling and greeting is not a norm in Germany. In addition, Wal-Mart never established relations with labor unions. In Korea, the racks were taller than that of competitors which raised a problem for people having to use ladders to reach items and the infrastructure also turned customers off with ceilings that showed pipes while their competitor E-Mart had decorated ceilings. Having failed to the tastes of South Korean and German consumers, the...
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...Elaine Hannah Why Invest in South Korea? Elaine Hannah Why Invest in South Korea? Why invest in emerging markets? To cash in where growth is today, and for the foreseeable future. But success is only possible if you have chosen the right entry modes to your market and understand the environmental, political and sociocultural factors of the chosen host country. This report analyses South Korea and demonstrates this emerging market is there for the taking if approached with shrewdness. The South Korean Government, after the financial crisis in 1997, decided it needed to make its country attractive for foreign direct investment, which resulted in the release of the Foreign Investment Promotion Act in 1998. This opened up a passage for 99.8% of Korea’s industry for direct investment. This report looks at the successes and failures of FDI’s in South Korea referred to as Korea from hereon, and what business factors influence these outcomes. Global Business Project Lecturer: Enda Murphy Student: 1063289, 1602617, 1728607 No of Words: 6198 Why invest in emerging markets? To cash in where growth is today, and for the foreseeable future. But success is only possible if you have chosen the right entry modes to your market and understand the environmental, political and sociocultural factors of the chosen host country. This report analyses South Korea and demonstrates this emerging market is there for the taking if approached with shrewdness. The South Korean Government, after...
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...Cross Cultural Perspectives The Walmart Corporation is a major American retailer. Walmart is the largest and most successful general merchandise retailer from the US. However, when Walmart attempted to branch out into new countries they failed time and time again. Is this report I am going to cover a few of the reasons they failed in several countries. Identifying the actual issues at fault. Then describe the issues in detail and how they affect Walmart as a result of being a global company. Walmart Cultural Issues One major issue Walmart ran into is bulk sales. In America people travel longer distances with their own cars and buy enough food to last them a month or more in one trip. It is typical for foreign countries to buy food daily. Foreign cultures are more accustomed to buying fresh food from butchers or local markets. Additionally Walmart is notorious for selling items in bulk. This again is an American cultural habit. In most foreign cultures people take public transportation or walk to the stores. This they do not have the ability to buy multiple bottles of shampoo at once, and prefer to buy it one bottle at a time. On a different note, Walmart failed again on the design of their stores. I will use South Korea as example here, mainly because I lived there for four years and have experienced all of these. In South Korea everything is about presentation. Their largest vendors, E-Mart, Home-Mart, etc. are all finished with an artistic design. They...
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...global organization named Walmart. I will also analyze ethical and social responsibility issues that WalMart deals with as a result of being a global organization. I will further compare these ethical perspectives with other cultures that do business with Walmart. Walmart’s Ethical Perspective Walmart belief is built on a foundation of integrity , values of honesty, fairness and objectivity. Sam Walton founded Walmart with the strong conviction that a retailer could help people save money and live better. Since, Sam’s passing away, Mike Duke, Chief Executive Officer, President and CEO of Walmart states “culture is how we work together to fulfill that purpose. It's incorporated into every aspect of our business”. He further states “Our beliefs are the foundation of our culture: service to our customers, respect for the individual, and striving for excellence which rest on the foundation of personal integrity and responsibility(p.1).” Strong adherence to these principles has created a unique work culture at Walmart. No matter where you go — to any of our stores and offices in any of our brands around the world — our associates live these values” (p.1). The Statement of Ethics is strictly enforced in conjunction with local laws, to create an honest, fair, and legal workplace. It applies to all stores in 27 countries and to third parties such as suppliers, consultants, law firms, public relations firms, contractors and other service providers. Walmart encourages associates...
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...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, the core business strategies Walmart chose to build its business on in America would...
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...* Executive summary. Walmart is a United States based multinational retail store. Walmart Thrive by dominating the retail market and providing broad quantity of product at a low cost. Walmart’s has repeatedly proved its successful company strategy in many occasions. This Global retail giant have burgeoned almost in all countries where it expanded with very few exceptions. To reinforce its global expansion process Walmart acquired 51% of Massmart, South Africa second biggest retailer. Although the merger of this two large firms unfolds Walmart’s way into one of the world’s biggest potential market it won’t be simple. Poor legal system and weak securities, cultural and infrastructure barriers, financials, rivals criticism, resistance from local group and government will hinder the merger process. Walmart needs to be prepared to face these challenges and develop a strategy. In order to deal with the challenges Walmart should: 1. Learn from previous mistakes in North Korea and Germany. 2. Make use of high GDP growth in Africa and rising middle class. 3. Use Massmart successful network. 4. Create a positive Brand and company name. 5. Do what it is best at “dominate retail market” * Section 2: External environment: Walmart and Massmart are a big part of global discount retail industry. Walmart is one of the world’s biggest retail industry operating in 14 different nations...
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...Wrigley, Neil; Lowe, Michelle and Cudworth, Katherine The Internationalisation of Tesco - new frontiers, new problems Wrigley, Neil; Lowe, Michelle and Cudworth, Katherine, (2014) "The Internationalisation of Tesco - new frontiers, new problems", Johnson, Gerry; Whittington, Richard; Scholes, Kevan; Angwin, Duncan and Regner, Patrick, Exploring Strategy: Text and cases, 657-661, Longman Scientific & Technical © Staff and students of the University of Worcester are reminded that copyright subsists in this extract and the work from which it was taken. This Digital Copy has been made under the terms of a CLA licence which allows you to: * access and download a copy; * print out a copy; Please note that this material is for use ONLY by students registered on the course of study as stated in the section below. All other staff and students are only entitled to browse the material and should not download and/or print out a copy. This Digital Copy and any digital or printed copy supplied to or made by you under the terms of this Licence are for use in connection with this Course of Study. You may retain such copies after the end of the course, but strictly for your own personal use. All copies (including electronic copies) shall include this Copyright Notice and shall be destroyed and/or deleted if and when required by the University of Worcester. Except as provided for by copyright law, no further copying, storage or distribution (including by e-mail) is permitted without the consent...
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...Wal-Mart’s Foreign Expansion Abstract Wal-Mart is the world’s largest retailer because it learned to successfully translate its merchandising strategy into foreign countries. Initially they tried the same techniques that worked in the U.S. They quickly learned that in order to be successful, they’d have to change their strategy to support the local market. Although some may not agree with their method of entering into joint ventures with local competitors and then taking over their companies, they must agree it was a successful strategy that made Wal-Mart the power house company it is today. Their strategy allowed them to learn the culture while establishing a bond with the community. They gained full access to the competitors’ way of doing business along with their resources. Wal-Mart’s Foreign Expansion How did Wal-Mart become the largest retailer in the world? It started out on a small scale level in Rogers, Arkansas. Sam Walton put his mind and his savvy business practices to work on a vision that most of us never even dream of. Even after his death, Wal-Mart’s financial status continues to climb higher every day. Due to its rapid expansion in the U.S, it quickly ran out of room to grow. The U.S. has 260 million shoppers, but expanding globally allowed Wal-Mart to reach 6 billion shoppers (Kavilanz, 2007). It did not take a rocket scientist to realize it was time to develop a plan to expand globally. The issue was could they translate their merchandising strategy wholesale...
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...Building an International Company Name University Abstract An international company is any company that has its facilities and other assets in at least one country other than its home country. A successful company understands the meaning of competition which has caused them to actively fight for new markets, products, and services in order to sustain a competitive advantage. A company that has obtained success in its country of origin usually expands their services into the global economy to become an international business. These companies effectively control their financial and material resources by managing economies of scale, low cost production and fluctuations in currency. Human resources are also essential in the making of a successful company by recruiting talented individuals and encouraging innovation within the company. International companies can expand organically, which is a slow process that consists of building the business from ground up, or they can expand inorganically by buying out, or merging with, an existing business. If I had to create a new product idea, I would want to invent a new way to produce cheap efficient energy for the need of the masses. I would expand the company to international status using the inorganic global growth process. Due to advances in technology, and in today’s business market, most businesses have to compete globally. “These companies actively compete for new markets, products, and services in order to develop and sustain...
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...entering Thailand and South Korea. In addition, South Korea has provided Tesco with its second-largest market after UK. The reason why Tesco can achieve such successful market enter in South Korea is that having transferable marketing that means Tesco has opportunities or ability to enter the market. In 1997-1998, Asia suffered economic crisis, which give Tesco opportunities to enter. Domestic market was seeking for cash injection and investment to enter into the market.Tesco’s entry strategies into new foreign markets involve joint ventures with local partner, which can release the enter barriers. Tesco has cooperation with Samsung- Homeplus that is the local retail company. In 2005-2008, Tesco purchase store form Aram Mart and from E-Land. By using this strategy, Tesco became leader on retail industry in South Korea. 2. Cost drivers: In 2011, the world first “virtual store” is launched by Samsung- Tesco, which smartphone users can scan the code of products in order to obtain delivery at home the same day. This is innovation of technology that leads to cost decrease on opening new physical store and achieve scale economics as well. In addition, multi-format chain with more than 400 stores achieved the scale economics. 3. Government drivers: Building on its 51% original stake, Tesco made substantial investment capital investment for partners to competitive with domestic market leader, which is in order to reduce the enter barriers on investment because South Korea is trying to protect...
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...Basak Alemdag WALMART RETAIL ANALYSIS Business description Walmart is an American retail corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores in various countries. It is currently the largest retailer in US and in the world and also the world's third largest public corporation according to the Fortune Global 500 list in 2012. Today, Walmart operates in 15 countries with a total of 8500 stores. It is well-known for its low-cost structure. Founded by Sam Walton in 1962, the company is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmart is still a family-owned business, run by the Walton Family who has the 48% stake of the company. It also owns a chain of warehouse stores in North America, called “Sam's Club retail warehouses”. Walmart has a wide range of product categories under the following departments: Electronics, Auto&Tires, Apparel, PhotoCenter, Books, Sports/Outdoors, Home Improvement, Baby, Patio&Garden, Toys, Health, Pets, Grocery, Gifts, Beauty, Movies&VideoGames, Party/Occasion, Pharmacy, Jewelry. Customer identification Walmart essentially targets price-sensitive consumers as their regular customers. It offers overall medium-quality goods with lowest prices, and it is the main reason most customers shop from Walmart. The average US Walmart customer's income is below the national average, and analysts recently estimated that more than one-fifth of them lack a bank account, twice the national rate. A Walmart financial report...
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...The history of Walmart was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton in Rogers, Ark. It is an American multinational retail corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. They focus on making a difference in the lives of their customers, and helping customers and communities save money and live better. In 1969, the company officially incorporated as Walmart Stores, Inc. Walmart started its public trade on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. With the continued rapid growth, Walmart was operating in 11 states with 276 stores by the end of 70’s decade. In the 1980s, the first Sam's Club opened, serving small businesses and individuals, and the first Walmart Supercenter opened, combining a supermarket with general merchandise. In the late 1980s and early 1990s the company rose from a regional to national giant, Walmart was the number-one retailer in the nation. In 2000s, Walmart focus on offering customers a seamless shopping experience, whether they are online, in a store or on a mobile device. Also, during these times, Walmart put some effort in implement several environmental measures to increase energy efficiency. Today, the company has grown to be the world’s largest and arguably, the most emulated retailer. The social cultural segment is concerned with a society’s attitudes and cultural values. A major social cultural trend is the continued growth of suburban communities. The increasing number of people living in the suburbs has a number of effects...
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