Walmart

Identify and evaluate the marketing strategies that Wal-Mart pursued to maintain its growth and marketing leadership position? What factors should a firm consider in the development of its marketing strategy.

In my analysis of the article, the marketing strategies employed by Wal-Mart are;

I. Cost Leadership

Wal-Mart commits to deliver quality products with the lowest price.

Wal-Mart’s prices are up to 15% cheaper than other stores. Wal-Mart’s store managers are given authority to lower prices based on the local competition.

Wal-Mart stores are built in the outskirts of large cities and communities with the warehouse appearance that giving them the competition advantages in low leasing and maintenance costs.

From my evaluation, the cost-leadership strategy helps Wal-Mart to fulfill the market niche of costumers looking for quality goods at a bargain price. This was the market-penetration and market-development strategy that helped the company penetrates and expands in its target market. Wal-Mart is somewhat protected from industry competitors by its cost advantages. If the rivalry within the industry competes on price, Wal-Mart is withstanding better then other companies because of its lower overhead costs and advanced inventory system.

II. Differentiations and Operation Effectiveness.

Apart from the cost leadership, Wal-Mart’s philosophies of excellence in the workplace, customer service, warmer feeling store and its core competencies in unique product inventory systems helped Wal-Mart