Walmart was initially founded in 1962 by Sam Walton and has since become one of the most successful corporations to ever grace the earth. Today, you’ll struggle to find someone across the globe who doesn’t recognize Walmart’s signage, as it’s one of the largest global retail giants, but how exactly did it get here? Well, Walmart uniquely promises an efficient supply chain, a vast product selection, and even low prices, too. As a result, the brand has managed to obtain billions of dollars in revenue, and the reasons for its success are explored below. All the way from an innovative set of strategies to Walmart’s customer-centric approach, is it any wonder that it has become a multibillion-dollar company?
A Versatile Product Range
One key factor of Walmart’s success is that it provides a product range that goes beyond traditional retail competitors. Almost anything and everything can be found at Walmart, and there’s no one target audience. For instance, Walmart is home to financial services, pharmacy services, and grocery departments, characterizing it as a one-stop shop for all manner of consumers. On top of this, Walmart capitalized on the demand for private label brands, as it started to develop its own line of quality products for affordable prices.
The Focus on the Customer Experience
Satisfied customers are sure to return again and again, and Walmart got this down to a tee. In order to maintain a customer-centric approach, Walmart works to provide a Savings Catcher program and a price-matching policy. As a result, customers are always guaranteed the lowest prices when shopping at Walmart. What’s more, employee training is properly invested in, meaning that excellent service is almost always guaranteed in Walmart stores. As a result, Walmart has a stellar reputation as far as customer experience is concerned, and this means that the loyalty of billions of shoppers has been earned.
The Rise of eCommerce and Technology
Since Walmart dates all the way back to 1962, it has naturally had to evolve and move with the times. As a result, it openly embraced eCommerce and other types of technology to reach a wider audience and enhance its offerings. In fact, the company’s online platform was heavily invested in, resulting in a robust logistics infrastructure, which supports online sales and improves the user experience. Similarly, it acquired other eCommerce companies and formed partnerships with digital giants to accelerate its eCommerce growth. Consequently, competing in the digital sphere was far from difficult for Walmart.
An Ever-Expanding Geographic Reach
Another vital aspect of Walmart’s success is its unwavering dedication to expansion. It began by dominating the local sphere, which was achieved by the opening of multiple stores in close proximity to one another. It then expanded even further, which enabled the advantages of economies of scale, including reduced costs and a significant presence in the retail sphere. Ultimately, it wasn’t long before Walmart expanded on an international scale, which allowed it to enter emerging markets and adapt its business model to cater to the preferences and needs of consumers globally.
Operational and Supply Chain Efficiency
What’s more, Walmart is renowned for its extremely efficient supply chain management, which has been achieved due to considerable investment. This investment resulted in innovative practices, which streamlined the flow of merchandise from suppliers to stores. As a result, inventory and storage costs were reduced and advanced systems were employed to manage and analyse inventory and data. As a result, operational efficiency, waste, and stock levels are all optimized.
Each of the above points is in addition to the discount retail model created by Walmart, which makes it appealing to customers everywhere.