Wal-Mart's everyday low prices gives an edge over other retailers.
? Efficient IT infrastructure enables to smoothen inbound and outbound logistics.
? Distribution efficiencies reduces the dependency on the suppliers inefficiencies.
? Wide range of products provides customer anything and everything under one roof.
? Current dominating market position gives advantage in market development and penetration.
? economies of scale
of scale
Weaknesses-
? The weakness is that their overhead is expensive to run store facilities all over the world.
? Hierarchical corporate structure may impair decision-making.
? In an attempt to succeed by means of low prices, may possibly portray Walmart as a cheap store.
? Market maturing
? Concentration in a low margin industry
?
? Zoning issues are the store real estate problems. Just because a company has the ability to build a huge store anywhere it wants to, it does not necessarily mean that it is possible to build one anywhere it wants to. The real estate issue becomes more evident in crowded cities such as Japan where there is a major concern over the availability of real estate.
Opportunities
? Expansion into emerging International markets
? Societal trend towards environmental friendly and American ?made products
? Move toward value for money products in the slower economic growth
Threats-
...