Wal Mart- An overview The Wal-Mart company, the world's largest retailer and second-largest corporation, is a dominant US business.

This study investigates whether there are significant long-run relationships between the business of Wal-Mart and the overall US economy as measured by an array of traditional macro-level variables. Analysis reveals that Wal-Mart sales generally move counter to overall economic conditions, dampened in more prosperous economic periods and buoyed in more sluggish economic environments. Consequently, trends in Wal-Mart sales may serve as a rather non-traditional contrarian economic bellwether. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. branded as Wal Mart, is an American multinational retail corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. Wal Mart remains a family-owned business, as the company is controlled by the Walton family, who own a 48 percent stake in Wal Mart. 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. Wal Mart is also the largest grocery retailer in the United States. Wal Mart has 8,500 stores in 15 countries, under 55 different names. Wall Mart- The International Picture Wal-Marts international operations currently comprise 4,263 stores and 660,000 workers in 15 countries outside the United States. There are wholly owned operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and the UK. With 2.1 million employees worldwide, the company is the largest private employer in the U.S. and Mexico, and one of the largest in Canada. In the financial year 2010, Wal-Marts international division sales were $100 billion, or 24.7 percent of total sales. WalMart has operated in Canada since its acquisition of 122 stores. In 2010, Wal-Mart Canada Bank was introduced in Canada with the launch of the Wal-Mart Rewards MasterCard. In the mid1990s Wal-Mart tried with a large financial investment to get a foothold in the German retail market. In 1997 Wal-Mart took over the supermarket chain Wertkauf with its 21 stores. WalMarts "Big Box Low Price" Model, a price strategy that works well in the U.S., was not successful in Germany. In 2004, Wal-Mart bought the 116 stores in the Bompreo supermarket chain in northeastern Brazil. Sales in 2006 for Wal-Marts UK subsidiary, Asda accounted for 42.7 percent of sales of Wal-Marts international division. In contrast to the US operations, Asda was originally and still remains primarily a grocery chain, but with a stronger focus on non-food

items than most UK supermarket chains other than Tesco. Wal-Mart has joint ventures in China and several majority-owned subsidiaries. Wal-Marts majority-owned subsidiary in Mexico is Walmex. In Japan, Wal-Mart owns 100 percent of Seiyu as of 2008. In January 2009, the company acquired a controlling interest in the largest grocer in Chile. Wall Marts Presence Table

Four Ps of Wall Mart Product- the Company is hosting products regarding electronics, movies, music, books, furniture, and all types of baby products, pharmaceutical products, jewellery, toys, photography, grocery and many more. They provide facility of online shopping and safe shipping. A very reliable and warranted system is provided to the customers purchasing any type of goods either online or directly through mega stores. Wal-Mart mostly exhibit private labeled brands and brands like Cott Beverages were exclusively marketed at Wal-Mart outlets.

Price- Universal bar code is the bench mark of this company and specifically an achievement for the founder. Prices of the grocery items at the Wal-Mart stores are as low as 15% of the local market. Electronic items and technological market rates are as lower as possible. Their price policy welcomes only those producers who are producing at the huge demand of the company, others being thrown out of the market. Place- Sams Club, Wal-Mart stores U.S, and Wal-Mart International are the three divisions in which Wal-Mart is working. Wal-Mart outlets are marketing with different names in Mexico, Japan, India, Brazil, UK, Canada, South America and China. Wal-Mart is a huge network of apparel stores, small markets, cash and carry stores, membership warehouse clubs, supercenters, food and drugs, etc. The outlets are huge buildings with an average area of 197,000 square feet. 38 Mega stores are operating in different countries with almost 1500 employees serving there in each store. Promotion- Online order placing shipment at the desired place is the major revenue earning source. Have an efficient working website and the database is designed to facilitate the customers and the contents are very well organized and easily reachable. Basically the company started with the discount principle but still apart from routine discount seasonal discount offers and bulk discount offers are also given, and sometimes products rates are fixed at very low price for a very limited period of time. Wall Mart- Situational Analysis (Going Global) Why Global- One and only reason is to survive in this competitive market. Other reasons for growth are Capital market expectations continuous sales and profits. Expectations of its own employees. Saturated domestic market. U.S. just 4% of the global population. Emerging markets- Tremendous opportunities.

Step 1: DECIDING COUNTRYSpecifics of the business, competitive and economic environments.

Step 2: DECIDING STRATEGY.

Acquiring an existing player.

Starting new stores on own.

Joint Ventures.

Wall Mart- INDIA Chapter In November 2006, the company announced a joint venture with Bharti Enterprises to open retail stores in India. As foreign corporations were not allowed to directly enter the retail sector in India, Walmart operated through franchises and handled the wholesale end.[92] The partnership involves two joint ventures; Bharti manages the front end involving opening of retail outlets, while Walmart takes care of the back end, such as cold chains and logistics. Wall Mart- Reason for Entry India is a tremendous potential market where middleclass population comprises of 300 million. It has consumer class of 105 million growing at a rate of 10% and with an annual average household income of $3000. Demographics- 60% of the Indian population is in the age group of 20-30 and is more inclined towards modern shopping. GDP growth is about 6-8%. Wall Mart- Opportunities in India Indias retail trade is estimated at $206 billion and growing at 5% annually and only 3% of market is organized comprising of shopping malls. India is a vast market for food retailing and one can add value to the customers by means of low price and wide range of merchandise.

 Wall Mart- Challenges in India A protest from the small grocery retailers (Kirana) is the main threat for them. FDI entry restriction is the second most reason. Competition from Indian retailers including Pantaloon, Shopers Stop, Piramals and the political controversies at each state.

Wall Mart- Operations Supply Chain Integration in developing countries by Wal-Mart.

TOTAL DELIVERY TIME

PROCESSING TIME YOU PLACE YOUR ORDER

WE SHIP YOUR ORDER

SHIPPING TIME DELIVERY

Wall Mart- Marketing Strategy Mission/Vision: To give ordinary folk the chance to buy the same thing as rich people. Product Strategy: Lowest prices across-board the product lines. Product USP: Core competency, Low prices, In-stock positions, Customer service. Service Strategy: Respect for the individual, high standards of service and constant strive for excellence. Segmentation: Middle class, Lower Middle class.

Positioning: Consistent positioning Always Low Price Activities: Food retail, Non-Food retail, and online food retail. Intangibles: Personalized customer service.

SWOT Strength Efficient supply chain management Service innovation and technology Large convenience stores, which offer one stop solution for all the customer needs. Least cost of packaging Strong penetration strategies Infrastructure (financial strength)

Weakness Poor public image Late entrant in international market. Unable to adapt to different countries Un-unionized & Strict labor laws Were unable to handle media High law suits against the company. Greater global footprints makes for difficulty in inventory management

Opportunity Many countries are still left Unorganized retail Globalization (diminishing trade barriers) Cold Storage market. Increase in consumer purchasing power

E-business Unemployment

Threats Competitors Anti-outsourcing laws coming into force An increasingly environment conscious consumer base Exposure to the political and socio-economic upheavals across the world

Recommendation Understanding the consumer behavior is needed. Market segmentation is to be done. Format of the stores should be super centers or hypermarkets. And lastly Wal-Mart to adopt a blended model of its traditional format with the reality of Indian real estate.