Sales are flat. Expansion is stalled. Image problems abound. Find out what the world’s biggest retailer is doing to tackle its strategic problems.Wal-Mart rose from a small chain in the Ozark Mountains to become the largest retailer in the world. But the strategies that fueled more than four decades of...
What’s wrong in Bentonville? The world’s largest retailer learns that being big is no guarantee of long-term success. 1. Domestic Saturation The Summary: After years of U.S. expansion, Wal-Mart is running out of real estate. The Challenge: Opening new markets by overcoming opposition...
The retailer’s executive team in Bentonville knows they can’t afford to stand still. What are they doing to put Wal-Mart back on the fast track? The Problem: Opening new stores in big cities Wal-Mart’s Solution: Launch efforts to support local businesses and introduce new...
Growth is stalled. Image-problems abound. We asked the experts to provide some free advice on how Wal-Mart can solve its current problems. The Problem: Opening new stores in U.S. cities The Summary: Whether it's Best Buy, Target, or Costco, every mega-retailer finds...
Here's a great article brief from Harvard Business Online on why businesses need an Office of Strategy Management or OSM. The article argues that most businesses fail to reach profitable growth because of the strategic disconnect that exists between different departments within the company. How can you solve this? The...
I just came across this hilarious story on Brand Autopsy about Campbell-Mithum, an ad agency in Minneapolis. The firm had a dilemma--it couldn't explain to its clients why its services are indispensable or how it can improve their branding and marketing efforts. Why? Because they didn't know! That's sounds like...
Dell said today that it would start selling personal computers at 3,000 Wal-Mart stores in the United States and Canada starting next month. This would be Dell's first foray at selling PCs through traditional retailers. Dell, clamoring to regain its position as the world's No. 1 PC maker,...
Looking for new ways to send large files via electronic mail? Mashable complied a list of seven services that let you email massive documents. Some of these services can send up to 500mb of attachments. In comparison, Google's Gmail only lets you send 20mb. The prices range from free for...
If you're an ad agency, what's the fastest way to get a client to fire you? Try running an ad campaign that your client didn't approve. Dr. Martens just ditched its ad agency, Saatchi and Saatchi London, after the firm ran posters depicting dead rockers in heaven wearing Dr. Martens...
Apparently Merrill Lynch has announced a new sick day policy. After missing four days of work, the company can start deducting an employee's pay. And if an employee misses nine days of work, he or she will be fired. And by the way, this policy applies to Merrill Lynch's admin...
Cingular is the new AT&T? The Cingular brand is now extinct because AT&T has a better reputation? AT&T is new? I'm so confused. If you are befuddled as I am, look at this bit of history to get grounded. What is clear is that AT&T (AT&T Mobility?)...
Fremont General said today that it agreed to sell its commercial real estate loan business to iStar Financial for $1.9 billion. The company also agreed to sell a minority stake in the entire company for $80 million to an investor group led by Gerald Ford,...
The New York State Attorney General has sued Dell over consumer complaints against the computer maker. The suit contends that Dell engaged in deceptive financing practices by misleading customers with enticing financing offers that carry many restrictions. The Attorney General's office wants an injunction against Dell's practices and...
Google Video's director and chief businesswoman, Jennifer Feikin, has announced that she is stepping down from her post and leaving the company. Her departure isn't going to shake up the company, but it raises an important question. Why does Google Video still exist? Google bought YouTube not only to keep...
Amazon decided it wants in on the digital music service market and clearly has its eyes on snatching up iTune users. So what are the implications of Amazon's new foray into digital music peddling? Well, the move will make Amazon the first digital music service to offer...
Visa is expected to announce that Joseph Saunders will become CEO of the company as it prepares to go public next year. Saunders, Visa's executive chairman, helped restructure the company by finding board members and naming a new CEO. Visa said last year that it would go public...
Yesterday's Wall Street Journal had an interesting article on how some companies are utilizing (or under-utilizing) corporate intranets. You can read the whole article here if you have the time and a WSJ subscription. If not, here are the main takeaways. THE NUMBERS: According...
Purchasing.com has a great three-part feature on the ABCs of spend analysis. The package covers how to acquire the data skills necessary for spend analysis, how to bring that data together, and how to change the way your company sources. These stories coincide with Purchasing.com's yearly survey of distributor performance....
Private equity firm Cerberus said today that it would buy the majority of DaimlerChrysler's struggling Chrysler Group for $7.4 billion. Daimler-Benz and Chrysler Corporation merged nine years ago in a deal valued at $36 billion. Cerberus Capital Management, who will get an 80.1 percent stake in ...
JetBlue Airways said today that it replaced its CEO David Neeleman. Neeleman, the company's founder, had been at the helm since 1998 and will assume the role of the company's non-executive chairman. The company said they planned for the change for some time. Last Valentine's Day, JetBlue had several...
