Complete Name: Unit 6 Student Name: Mallory, Shemaiah ********************************************************************************************************** 1. Conduct online research on Home Depot, including both company and non-company sources. ********************************************************************************************************** 2. In a narrative format, discuss the company from a strategic perspective. Information concerning recent changes in the firm is readily available online and should be accessed. Strategic issues should be discussed in “real time.” Student Answer: Home Depot invest billions of funding to make certain that their strategy is accurate. Home Depot plans to spend $5.4 billion …show more content…
“Pitt” Hyde III. AutoZone opened its door in 1979 under the initial name of Auto Shack. AutoZone became the official name in 1987. It was not long, until AutoZone made its debut on the New York Stock exchange in 1991, becoming the first auto parts retailer to store customer warranties in a computer database” (De Oliveira, 2017). Sales increased about $1.5 billion dollars alone just by upgrading communication between stores through satellites in 1994. AutoZone a year later created their own Durlast battery trademark as well as opened their 1,143 store in over 26 states. Its financial performance has been AutoZone’s main organizational strength which was attained by offering greater customer service, products, and quality data over its opponents. Like any other company, AutoZone has weaknesses as well with those being its legal proceeding and litigation. There are several competitors in this market which are considered a great threat for AutoZone such as Advance Auto Parts, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Checker Auto Parts. Not only do AutoZone have to compete with its competition, it also must compete with other aftermarket automotive parts retailers, they also must deal with car dealership parts and auto repair shops that offer parts as well. If these vendors find and innovative way to offer the same products or procedures at a better price this could hurt AutoZone’s annual revenue and expansion plans. …show more content…
Being that Hyde served on Wal-Mart’s board of directors for seven years, he was able to build on the big box business model. Hyde’s concentration was focused on the smaller markets in the south and southeast. His primary emphasis was focused on service and everyday low prices. By 1984 this auto parts retailer enjoyed the fruits of his labor and the success of growing his stores to almost 200. Not long after, Hyde introduced the Duralst private label and the company formally changed its name to AutoZone. After this launch its stores grew to nearly 600 stores going public with sales topping the one billion mark in 1992. In 1997, Hyde was replaced as CEO by John Adams. The following year, Chief Auto Parts was bought out by AutoZone converting 560 stores in the California area into AutoZone. “Creating a system to manage and utilize such data effectively can help retailers enhance their strategic effectiveness, regardless of business strategy” (Parnell, 2017, p. 201). In the early 2000’s AutoZone prominence shifted from attainment to internal growth when the company acquired Adap’s 112 Auto Places stores in the Northeast. By 2003, AutoZone amassed over 12% of the $36 billion do it yourself automotive aftermarket. With over $5 billion in annual revenue sales by 2004, AutoZone had grown into the leading automotive aftermarket retailer. Although they
Home Depot is the brainchild of Bernard Marcus and Arthur Blank and came about after both men lost their job in the home improvement industry in 1978 (Parnell, 2014). Home Depot has acquired several smaller home improvement stores in both the U.S. and abroad through the years which enabled it to position itself as the world’s largest home improvement chain (Parnell, 2014). Home Depot focuses on the do-it-yourself segment of the market and sells sells tools, construction products and services. Marketing is a strong point for the company. They are able to maintain a competitive advantage by keeping themselves available to their customers at all times. Home Depot has been using both online and offline marketing efforts. The internet has become a very useful tool for the company and part of the reason that they are leading the market in DIY stores. Home Depot currently provides DIY videos on YouTube and Vine that cover current topics that consumers are likely to be interested in. They also have social media pages on Facebook and Twitter, where they have a huge following. They provide online communities where actual employees answer consumer’s questions and provide assistance on
Opening its doors for the first time in 1946, Lowe’s is now the second largest home improvement chain in the world, operating over 1,800 stores in the United States, generating $56.2 billion in sales and $2.6 billion in net income for 2014 (Lowes Newsroom, 2015). Employing around 265,000 personal making them one of the top employers in the nation, there is no question that Lowe’s must be doing something right. According to Lowes Newsroom, “Lowe’s professional customers represent approximately 30 percent of total sales, approximately 16 million retail and professional customers are served each week. (2015, para 3) “Never Stop Improving”, is Lowe’s slogan; encouraging employees and customers to work together to maximize their in store
Caterpillar Inc. - Strengths and Weaknesses Caterpillar Inc., sought to better determine customer demand by leveraging the Internet. Using i2 Demand Chain Management, Caterpillar created an online dealer storefront that is accessible to both dealers and end customers, and the company has expanded its sales coverage, reduced the cost of sale, and increased productivity. Caterpillar’s Building Constructions Product Division needed to predict and rapidly respond to customer demand. The company wanted to empower its dealer network to provide the highest levels of service to the end customer. Company executives knew that the Internet was critical to their strategy. Caterpillar wanted to leverage the Internet to provide more visibility into customer buying habits. In doing so, it could save millions of dollars in inventory by building and configuring those products that customers demand, rather than stocking excess inventory. The company wanted to promote specific product lines and associated work tools using a combination of traditional (dealer) and nontraditional (Internet) channels th...
Regarding strategic control, they were faced with determining how to move forward, and with what mix of product offerings? The leadership realized that with shrinking profits and increased competition the status quo would not guarantee long-term survival. Execution via their previously successful marketing channels would be problematic without either some sort of peace offering to dealers and installers, or a total shift in the advertising and sales process. The dealers and installers interacting with the customer were more likely to understand the customers concerns. Unless the company rebuilds their relationship with these front-line sales force, the customer service will suffer and ultimately the brand equity will continue to erode. The idea that the dealer is treated as the most valuable link to the customer and feels completely supported by the supplier, is exactly what enabled Caterpillar to survive in the late 1990’s. (Fites, 1996). Regardless of how the company addresses their root problems, a marketing channel analysis will undoubtedly conclude that both order getting and order servicing expenses will initially increase. In the short-term, the relationships must be rebuilt. In the long-term, they must shift overall strategy to remain profitable. If they elect to maintain their high-end product mix, customer expectations will increase demanding more from
In the early 2000’s Lowe’s was rapidly intensifying its presence nationwide. The company carried a varied assortment of home improvement products and catered to the needs of retail as well as commercial business customers. Lowe’s expanded their reach by acquiring a 41-store chain, Eagle Hardware and Garden, and engaging in a strategic alliance with HGTV to obtain a more profound existence in their market (Rouse, 2005). By 2004, Lowe’s operated almost 1,000 stores with plans to continue expansion across the nation (Rouse, 2005). The company has a core competency in helping customers meet their home improvement needs at a low price. In order to use this core competency to gain a competitive advantage, the company has focused on key functional strategies. To continue their success, Lowe’s must specifically focus on marketing, logistics, and human resource management strategies.
CarMax practices several services including extended service plans, wholesale auction, service and repair, and auto finance. CarMax also attracts the customers through wide-range of selections, low price, and high quality. These activities result the high customer satisfaction which is the most important aspect for its growth. According the case, Austin Ligon, who was the CEO of CarMax until the year of 2006, said that the information system of CarMax is the one of their biggest competitive advantages. The information system provides the inventory demands and helps to keep track on the customer needs and wants through the customers’ online searches. This allows the company to understand the customers’ demands. Even though CarMax has potential to continue its growth, there is a weakness which could be an obstacle for growing. CarMax offers no haggling prices so depends on the customers’ behavior about negotiating, the customers who wants to negotiate will return to other
The Article, "Renovating Home Depot," describes how, since the arrival of the new Chief Executive, Robert Nardelli, the business strategy has shifted to a more militaristic style. In the beginning, Home Depot was a "decentralized, entrepreneurial" business, and now is switching to a different management style. Nardelli loves to hire ex-soldiers, and is perhaps using the armed services as a role model for the new business structure. Under Nardelli's leadership, Home Depot is becoming more centralized and the good financial reports following this are signs that it a good strategy (Grow 50).
There are a number of smaller players but lack the public existence and retail footprint of their larger counterparts. With such high levels of market absorption, both HD and LOW enjoy high bargaining power with suppliers of goods. The two companies vary significantly in terms of the strategies they employ to compel consumer traffic. Home Depot centre of attention is customer service, while Lowe’s offers discounts to improve sales. Home Depot has determined on customer service as a driver to grow customer traffic and sales, Lowe has battled mainly on the basis of lower prices. Home Depot has a status for lesser prices and more pro-friendly impression where Lowe’s is trying to capture the traditional do-it-yourself customer by trying to appeal the female customer, who the company declares, is responsible for eighty percent of home improvement
Home Depot is built on the principle of creating value for our stockholders while never forgetting our values. We seek to be profitable, responsible, and balance the needs of our communities. Throughout our company, our associates are challenged with finding ways in which we can provide the best products for our customers, provide the best possible work environment for our associates, have a positive impact on the communities in which we operate, and provide excellent returns for our stockholders. Working in a Store Support Center, rather than a corporate headquarters, their leadership team knows that the most important people in the fabric of the company are the store associates and store leadership teams. Frank Blake was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Home Depot in January 2007 (Sellers, P.).
Part of the demographic of shoppers in Home Depot retail outlets need an item or product immediately, and that brand recognition and in stock purchase option is vital to maintaining the competitive advantage of the organization.
Offering consumers access to an extensive inventory online along with warranties, service, financing, appraisals, and add the consumer’s ability to sell the car to the dealership is CarMax’s brand. CarMax needs to continue to leverage their competitive strengths while making sure they offer the best-priced cars to the very competitive used car buying consumer. While it may be attractive to CarMax to enter new car market, they risk losing the ability to conduct their business model as manufacturers have various rules and contract requirements to carry the Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Honda, or Toyota product lines. With this, they risk losing their brand recognition and identity with their consumers. Additionally, costs associated with buying an existing dealership with inventory and various licensing and franchising fees have the potential to drive up costs and therefore threaten their ability to price
It should capitalize on the cost-leadership strategy and improve its customer service to edge out Ace and steal a chunk of its market share. Lowe’s should also seek to negotiate for favorable contracts with the major Australian suppliers on a cost-advantage level and thus increase its bargaining power. Moreover, such a strategy would create an entry barrier for Australian start-up competitors who might seek to use their home advantage to outcompete
Content 1.Preface 2.Introduction 3.Problem definition 4.Summary 5.Conclusion 6. Chapter 1: External analysis of Home Depot Inc. 7. Chapter 2: Internal analysis of Home Depot Inc. 8. Chapter 3: Strategic forces. 9.
Conclusion: Given the current economic status the home improvement industry is in a low spot with sales. With the decrease in building new homes we have to focus mainly on home improvements. The three strong points we have against existing rivalries are our great locations, quantity of quality products, and convenient customer service. With these great qualities we can move ahead and stay ahead of our competitors during these times.
AutoEdge is facing crisis since millions of its automobiles has had to be recalled due to product quality issues. Many things should be considered in order to implement a proactive response to rectify the situation. As the research analysis, I have been tasked will helping to rebuild AutoEdge’s reputation as well as to reduce and control operating costs. When making any decision on implementing change within the organization market analysis must look at the market structure of the organization. Market structure is made up of the relationship that exists between buyers, sellers, competition, product differentiation, and ease of entry into and exit from the market. The article “Review of Market Structure” (n.d.) defines market structure as the “microeconomic characteristics of different markets” and include such elements as competition level, high versus low entry barriers, and scale (Review of Market Structure, n.d.) To make the decision the decision to relocate, AutoEdge must analysis and evaluate of market structure. This report will discuss the four different types of market structures: monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition, and pure competition. Additionally, it will outline the type of market structure AutoEdge fits into, how that market structure impacts the level of competition, elasticity of demand, price, and position in the industry.