Potential Competitors: Medium pressure
Grocers could potentially enter into the retail side.
Entry barriers are relatively high, as Wal-Mart has an outstanding distribution systems, locations, brand name, and financial capital to fend off competitors. Wal-mart often has an absolute cost advantage over other competitors.
Rivalry Among Established Companies: Medium Pressure
Currently, there are three main incumbent companies that exist in the same market as Wal-Mart: Sears, K Mart, and Target. Target is the strongest of the three in relation to retail. Target has experienced tremendous growth in their domestic markets and have defined their niche quite effectively. Sears and K-Mart seem to be drifting and have not challenged K-Mart in sometime. Mature industry life cycle.
The bargaining power of Buyers: Low pressure
The individual buyer has little to no pressure on Wal-Mart.
Consumer advocate groups have complained about Wal-Mart’s pricing techniques. Consumer could shop at a competitor who offers comparable products at comparable prices, but the convenience is lost.
Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Low to Medium pressure
Since Wal-Mart holds so much of the market share, they offer a lot of business to manufacturers and wholesalers. This gives Wal-Mart a lot of power because by Wal-Mart threatening to switch to a different supplier would create a scare tactic to the suppliers. Wal-Mart could vertically integrate.
The Essay on Supply Chain Management Companies Mart Wal
"Supply chain management is the flow of goods, services, and information from the initial sources of materials and services to the delivery of products and activities occur in the same organization or in other organizations" (Horngren 695). This approach enables Regal Marine (R. M) to be highly effective, efficient, and profitable. More over supply chain management effectively manage your supply ...
Wal-Mart does deal with some large suppliers like Proctor & Gamble, Coca-Cola who have more bargaining power than small suppliers. Substitute Products: Low pressure
When it comes to this market, there are not many substitutes that offer convenience and low pricing. The customer has the choice of going to many specialty stores to get their desired products but are not going to find Wal-Mart’s low pricing. Online shopping proves another alternative because it is so different and the customer can gain price advantages because the company does not necessarily have to have a brick and mortar store, passing the savings onto the consumer.
Complementors: Low pressure
One complementor that exists for Wal-Mart is Sam’s Wholesale Clubs. Although the same company owns this, it complements Wal-Mart by offering the same products in wholesale form, making the company more profitable. Suppliers of goods need to have innovative products to attract customers. For the most part, complementors do not affect Wal-Mart’s business model.