SWOT ANALYSIS

SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis

Introduction

Office Depot is one of the world's largest sellers of office products and an industry leader in every distribution channel, including stores, direct mail, contract delivery, and the Internet and business-to-business electronic commerce.

SWOT Analysis:

Definition: SWOT stands for “Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats”. (Berg, 2000) SWOT analysis is a common framework used by business students. Practicing managers use the SWOT framework too. SWOT presents a good method for a quick overview of how a company is poised for the future.

Strengths

Since Office Depot was founded in 1986, they have revolutionized the way office products were sold through warehouse retailing. Warehouse retailing involves buying directly from manufacturers in high volumes; this has been successful due to its low overhead costs and savings to customers. Low overhead trickles down to the consumer, who is able to purchase its every conceivable office needed product at up to 60% off of list prices.( Berg, Gary, 2000)

Office Depot maintains its success as the result of their relentless focus on a simple formula: To offer the broadest selection of high-quality office products, services and information that their customers need at everyday low prices.

“Office Depot gives all of our customers a great selection and excellent brands at everyday low prices…and our commitment are to keep doing so. But we'd also like to reward our best customers with special benefits, no matter how they shop: in-store, by phone, or online!” (Office Depot Advantage Program: a new standard in Customer Reward program)

The Office Depot also offers Advantage Program that gives the members opportunity to avail credits for up to $50 in rewards per quarter that will equals to $200 per year! Other than this program exclusive benefits include Product Specials, Personalized Offers, Members-Only Shopping Events, and Copy & Print Center Discounts. Best of all, the members have the opportunity to get reward credit each and every time they shop.

The Vendor Diversity Process at Office Depot has received numerous accolades from customers, suppliers and non-profit organizations: all acknowledge the fact that Office Depot Vendor Diversity means business.( Berg, Gary, 2000)

At Office Depot, they are sincere about the commitment they've made to vendor diversity. To facilitate their commitment they've created a plan that is organized into five key areas to insure its success:

Seek: Office Depot attends numerous regional and national business expos, business card exchanges and seminars, to identify businesses as potential suppliers.

Offer: Ensure that all businesses have equal opportunity in the supplier selection process. They remove the question of who to contact by offering direct access to a single point: vendordiversity@officedepot.com

Partner: By building on existing strengths of Office Depot and their MWDVE partners, they meet their customers' needs, and these strong supplier partnerships essentially make business better for everyone

Market: they highlight the products they purchase from minority and women-owned businesses in their full-line national catalogs and on their website www.officedepot.com that shows their community involvement and their commitment for the well-being of the society.

Empower: Ultimately, the goal of Vendor Diversity Program is to empower ...