Many of us are familiar with Wal-Mart stores known for selling a variety of products for less. This retail store operates throughout the world expanding its business even in third-world countries like Nicaragua. The power of savings doesn’t stop there; Walmart Inc. is expanding its branches to other developed countries saving money. This retailed based company has influenced, and continues to influence our economy.

In this paper, Wal-Mart Corporations will be assessed based on the company’s Strength, weaknesses, opportunities and Threats (SWOT). The following assessment is based on articulated and credible resources.

Industry

Through the advanced technology in recycling and recovering products has been one important factor in contributing to saving the planet. Using new techniques of recovering and recycling products like plastics, metals, paper cardboard, glass, batteries, and electronics are major products this retail giant is working to save the world by doing its part. Based on Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc. “more than 1800 businesses in North America are involved in recycling post-consumer plastics-triple the number of a few years ago”. This is a bold move taken by Wal-Mart so far in order to save the planet. Let alone recycling products themselves Wal-Mart Inc. told its vendors to do the same. Kroger CO. is one of the vendors that launched a significant effort, pushing consumers to recycle products after use.

Strengths

Throughout the US and around the globe Wal-Mart is known for providing more products for less. The power of saving more bucks in a family they enable their industry to grow larger and larger every year. Wal-Mart is praised for providing a wide range of goods that are used in our day to day basis. For instance, they sell groceries, house appliances, car parts and many more goods. These are all that consumers need or continue to use through their day. Walmart is the only company on the mission to improve consumers lives by allowing them to save money and spend it on other things they love to do.

Another significant strength seen from Wal-Mart is they supply different types of goods. For instance, they provide groceries, health and wellness, electronics department, Clothing section, home categories and car equipment are some of the products sold by Wal-Mart. Additionally, Wal-Mart focuses and listens to the consumers. The unbeatable pricing continues with strategic planning and executing the plans. Wal-Mart Inc. has found out that listening and communicating with their customers is crucial to achieving company’s goals. Marketing programs such as “everyday low pricing, everyday low cost, rollbacks, saving catcher, and Walmart pickup” are most of the programs used to keep the low cost at this company. Unless the company effectively communicates with the consumers with either mailing their goods and services or getting feedback listening to them and responding to their comments is importance.

Weaknesses

Currently, Wal-Mart is facing criticism from left and right in regards how the employees have been treated also the benefits they receive from the company. From various controversies deviating from the federal and state minimum wage was one of them. Exploiting employers hasn’t done any good to the company but hurt the company’s brand down.

Opportunities

Technologies enable us to communicate, to buy and sell products with less effort. Platforms allow businesses to run efficiently and smoothly. New technologies enabled Wal-Mart to build user-friendly platforms that would allow consumers buy goods without leaving their house.

Being able to design user-friendly interface allowed the company to gain profit. Through e-commerce, the company is able to reach far more consumers that ever which led to the growth and profit for the shareholders. Wal-Mart provides the wide range of items, as mentioned above they’re able to provide consumers wants and needs. The company is originated in the US but with the rapid growth its ability to reach even third world counties like Nicaragua. Based on Oxford press, “Wal-Mart invested $7,922 million including $2,171 Million in reach through new stores.” This depicts the strength of this corporation, also, they’re capable of much more in the community and around the globe.

Threats

Wal-Mart has been facing competition from its competitors such as Costco and Sam’s Club. All three-retail stores have their intended purpose when it comes to serving, providing and helping their customers. Based on Southern Economic Journal is written by Charles Courtemanche and Carden; Costco’s and Wal-Marts marketing plans tend to focus on small business customers while Costco offers low prices on high-end goods aimed at upper-middle-class families. Having different retail stores that target certain group from the society exerts pressure on Walmart in developing different market strategy.

Furthermore, the rapid growth of Wal-Mart is causing closer to other competitor stores. It’s basically driving rivals out of business in some part of US. By growing their retails stores they’re creating consumers to shop at their store simply because other stores are out of the market due to the competition from Wal-Mart. This could look good for Wal-Mart but when it comes to the community they would lose hope in Wal-Mart because Wal-Mart is simply kicking out retail store they had for years. This change might have a negative effect on the society by driving their culture out of business. However, in some areas, concerned citizens are attempting to conserve their communities by keeping their old local stores. That basically means Wal-Mart has the potential to disrupt the culture of the community.

Recommendation

Above all, Wal-Mat continues to be the leading retails in the US and around the world providing goods for less. Wal-Mart continues to affect the lives of those with less income in the society. Even though this major retail company is facing criticism in regards to how they treat their employees and forcing out older stores are a major concern for our citizens. Besides those concerns, Wal-Mart continues to lead the retail market by listening to their customers and responding to their needs. Most importantly their focus on creating a user-friendly platform is even helping them beyond the growth and profit they are expecting.