WAL-MART

Wal-Mart - United Kingdom

[Name of the Institute]

Wal-Mart - United Kingdom

Introduction

Wal-Mart Store is a U.S. multinational company specializing in retail, founded by Sam Walton and now headed by his eldest son, S. Robson Walton. Founded under that name in 1962, it has grown rapidly in Arkansas and led all U.S. begin to internationalize from 1991. In Europe, stores are present in Great Britain under the name Asda (WIPO Arbitration Center 2004, pp. 35-52). Wal-Mart is now attacking the market Asia. Based in China since 1996, the group employed about thirty thousand workers in this country in 2006. It is also present in Japan under the name Seiyu. In 2005, 20 million customers attending the Wal-Mart on average each day.

One can find two finest types of retail stores in the country, i.e. independent businesses and chain stores. We can define a chain store as a store, which has a number of retail stores underneath the same owner. Every store in a chain store normally shares a common brand and name, a common range of products, appearance, and operation methods. The growth got assisted by sub-urbanization and enhanced ownership of automobiles that had made separate chain stores and shopping malls approachable to more people. This shifted economic activity away from downtown shopping districts, which housed many independent merchants and had long served as centres of commerce and shopping.

Wal-Mart and Unions

Wal-Mart has been effective known and renowned for functioning on more-for-less value proposition. With over $400 billion in annual sales, 4,100 stores in the United States, and 3,500 stores overseas, the company is believed to have the world's chief and principal retail operations in terms of segmentation and promotion their exceptionally low price ranges. Wal-Mart first introduced grocery products into its Supercenters in 1988, using its powerful supply management tactics to compete at the lowest price point. Such tactics forced other supermarket chains including Grand Union, Bruno's, and Homeland Stores into bankruptcy (Fishman, 2004, 2-5).

During 2006, Tom Coughin, the vice-president of Wal-Mart, pleaded guilty and proved convicted of stealing gifts cards, money and merchandise from Wal-Mart, but did not receive solitary confinement or any form of counseling or psychological assistance due to his poor health conditions and medically deteriorating condition. Later, however, he was subjected to a prison and sentences to five years of probation, followed by prompt medical treatment and healthcare facilities. In addition to this, he also had to pay charges in restitution of the company overall and also to the Internal Revenue Service.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study is to investigate the role of competitive strategies in marketing campaigns in United Kingdom, a number of aspects of the pricing decision, and it is affect on organisations profit (Wal-Mart). This study will also describe the pricing strategy of Wal-Mart in UK.

Mission Statement

“To provide everyday low prices on their products as well as a customer friendly store environment with a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction.”

Mission and Values

“Saving people money, so they can have a better life” Wal-Mart's mission on which ...