Walmart Case Study. This paper will provide Walmart with a business plan regarding their most intriguing opportunity, which is boosting their internet sales by connecting with the new generation through new age technology.

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Walmart

Introduction

        As a business consultant for Walmart this business plan will provide an overview of Walmart's strength and weaknesses as well as how they can turn their strengths into opportunities while trying to minimize forthcoming threats in the industry. This plan will use external as well as internal analysis of the company, but will begin with a bit of an overview. Walmart is the largest multinational retail chain of department and warehouse stores in the world. Walmart operates discount stores, supercenters, which include grocery as well as general merchandise and Sam's Club warehouses are around the world. Walmart is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and is currently being valued at about $60.62 per stock with an enormous market cap of just over $200 billion. There is at least one Walmart store in every single state and a total of over 8,500 in 15 different countries.  With their size and dominance over the wholesale retail industry, Walmart has been a leading discount department store and must continuously be adapting to new technology and consumer trends. The biggest competitors of Walmart are Costco's and Target, however as of the latest fiscal year both of their revenues barely surpass a fourth of Walmarts $440 billion revenue. Walmart has a unique opportunity to connect to the upcoming generations through new era technology such as smart phones and social networking. However, one of the biggest issues Walmart is facing will be to keep up with the ever changing technology. Walmart cannot afford to be left behind and let their global internet sales decline because they are not in tune with the new age technology.

Executive Summary

        This paper will provide Walmart with a business plan regarding their most intriguing opportunity, which is boosting their internet sales by connecting with the new generation through new age technology. Computers and smart phones have become part of daily life. Personally, I cannot remember a day where I have not looked at my laptop or IPhone. Walmart must beef up their e-commerce section of their organization by adapting to new age technology, which will then connect them to the upcoming generations. If Walmart wants to continue being the number one retail giant in the world then they must also become the number one online retail giant as well. This plan to improve online sales using new social media and smart phones was deciphered after using these tools:

  • External Analysis using Industry Analysis as well as PESTEL to detail threats and opportunities
  • Internal Analysis outlining Walmart's strength and weaknesses

External Analysis

        Opportunities:

Economic

        The recession can be an economic opportunity as well as a threat to this industry. The recession has made consumers more aware of how they spend their money making them less frugal. While the recession may have taken a deep swing at consumer spending, it also made them realize that they need to get more value for every dollar they spend. No industry does that better than the wholesale retail industry, which gives the consumer more for their dollar than other specialty stores.

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Environmental

        An opportunity for this industry in the environmental sector can be that the new generation is all about going green. This industry can really help out this new idea by selling more "green" environmentally friendly products and maybe even opening an department in their stores for "green" products.

Legal Environments

        An opportunity facing this industry will be the generous tax breaks given to monopolies in this economy. Politician and lawmakers are generally very friendly to large corporations, such as the ones in this industry because they supply numerous amounts of jobs to the public.

Political

        An opportunity facing ...

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