Walmart Case Study

Final Project: Case Study # 5

Wal-Mart

LJ

Bus 285 0901- Management Issues

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Company Overview

Organizational Specifics

(Corporate Structure, Sales, History)

The Fortune 500 Company that I chose to research is a company that America loves to hate, Walmart or "Wally World" as it is often referred. Being ranked #1 on the Fortune 500 list for 2010 "Walmart is the largest grocery retailer in the United States" (www.cnnmoney.com). They have reached this position through having over 100,000 suppliers, 2 million Walmart associates and 8,400 stores in 15 countries. Wal-Mart had revenues that reached 408,214,000 and profits of 14,335,000 as stated on cnnmoney.com. As it relates to Revenues and Profits, Wal-Mart’s competition came from other types of businesses such as Exxon, Chevron, AT&T, Bank of America, and Ford Motor Company instead of through retailers such as Target, Kmart, or Meijer’s. Many of the other top ten companies experienced a reduction in profits compared to Wal-Mart’s 7% increase from 2008. Ruling this leading position is not new to this retailer. Through surpassing the previous year’s revenues and profits surging through the roof, Walmart's destined to appear on top yet again.

“Saving people money to help them live better” was the belief that Sam Walton envisioned when he opened the doors to the first Walmart store (www.walmartstores.com). Over 40 years after its initial launch, Walmart is continuing to provide the service and commitment to its customers as Sam Walton desired. Walmart started from a truly humble beginning in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmart the largest grocery retailer in the U.S. and it is also the largest private employer. Sam Walton gained his retail and business experience through working for companies such as J.C. Penny and another discount store, where he realized the importance of appealing to the small communities. Walmart...