批发与零售英语PPT (2)

Competition
• Wal-Mart also had to face fierce competition in some foreign markets. For example, in Germany it had captured just 2 percent of the German food market following its entry into the market in 1997 and remained "a secondary player" behind Aldi with a 19 percent share.[156] When in July 2006, Wal-Mart announced its withdrawal from Germany, its stores were sold to German company Metro.[98] Wal-Mart continues to do well in the UK, and its Asda subsidiary is the second largest chain after Tesco
Employee and labor relations
• With close to 2.2 million employees worldwide, Walmart has faced a torrent of lawsuits and issues with regards to its workforce. These issues involve low wages, poor working conditions, inadequate health care, as well as issues involving the company's strong anti-union policies. In November 2013 the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced that it had found that in 13 U.S. states Wal-Mart had pressured employees not to engage in strikes on Black Friday, had illegally disciplined workers who had engaged in strikes.[182] Critics point to Walmart's high turnover rate as evidence of an unhappy workforce, although other factors may be involved. Approximately 70% of its employees leave within the first year.[183] Despite the turnover rate the company still is able to affect unemployment rates. This was found in a study by Oklahoma State University which states, "Walmart is found to have substantially lowered the relative unemployment rates of blacks in those counties where it is present, but to have had only a limited impact on relative incomes after the influences of other socio-economic variables were taken into account
Finance and governance
• Wal-Mart is governed by a fifteen-member Board of Directors, which is elected annually by shareholders. Robson Walton, the eldest son of founder Sam Walton, serves as Chairman of the Board. Michael T. Duke serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Lee Scott, formerly CEO, serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board. Other members of the board include Aí da Álvarez, Jim Breyer, M. Michele Burns, James Cash, Roger Corbett, Douglas Daft, David Glass,Marissa Mayer, Gregory B. Penner, Allen Questrom, Arne M. Sorenson, Jim Walton, Christopher J. Williams, and Linda S. Wolf.[4][148] Sam Walton died in 1992. After Walton's death, Don Soderquist, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice Chairman, became known as the "Keeper of the Culture."
• • • • Segmentation Targeting Differentiation Positioning
Second
Wholesale strategy Wholesale marketing mix Product and service assortment Wholesale prices Promotion Distribution(location)
Types of wholesalers
• Merchant wholesaler
An independently owned business that takes title to the merchandise it handles.
• Broker
A wholesaler who does not take title to goods and whose function is to bring buyers and sellers together and assist in negotiation
Retailer
Major store retailer types
Type Specialty stores Department stores Supermarkets Convenience stores Discount stores Off-price retailers superstores
Gender and sexual orientation
• In 2007, a gender discrimination lawsuit, Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., was filed against Walmart, alleging that female employees were discriminated against in matters regarding pay and promotions. A class action suit was sought, which would have been the nation's largest in history, covering 1.5 million past and current employees of Wal-Mart.[186] On June 20, 2011, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Wal-Mart's favor, stating that the plaintiffs did not have enough in common to constitute a class.[187] The court ruled unanimously that because of the variability of the plaintiffs' circumstances, the class action could not proceed as presented, and furthermore, in a 5–4 decision that it could not proceed as any kind of class action suit.[188] However, several plaintiffs, including Ms. Dukes, still intend to file individual discrimination lawsuits separately.
• Agent
A wholesaler who represents buyers or sellers on a relatively permanent basis,perfoms only a few functions,and does not take title to goods.
Wholesaler marketing decisions First
Retailing
All activites involved in selling goods or services directly to final consumers for their personal, nonbusinesse use.