- 2 - Contents 1. Overview of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. background………………………………....3 2. Four global business categories of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc……..............................3 3. The current main competitors to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc…………...……………..4 4. The e-commerce related advantages of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc……….. .………...6 5. The diagram of logistics and supply chain system of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc…………………………………………………………………….. .………...7 6. The e-commerce related disadvantages of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc……… .……….7 7. In order to maintain or grow the leadership, what improvements should be taken by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc……………………………………….…………. 8 8. The possible difficulties that Wal-Malt stores may face during the process of improvement………………………………………………………. .………...9 9. Alternative actions (if any) if you were the CEO of one of Wal-Mart’s competitors………………………………………………………….……………9 10. References…………………………………………………………….………….10 - 3 - 1. Overview of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. background Wal-Mart Stores Inc. was founded by American retail legend Mr. Sam Walton in Arkansas in 1962. Over forty-year period, it has become the world ’s largest private employer and retailer, on the top of the Fortune 500 list and has been among the most valuable brands for many years. Today, with over 2.1 million employees worldwide, Wal-Mart operates more than 8,000 units in 15 countries under 53 different brands, and serves more than 200 million customers per week. Wal-Mart had $405 billion in annual sales in fiscal year 2010 (FYE10, Feb. 1, 2009 to Jan. 31, 2010). The charitable giving numbers including cash and in-kind gifts v...
