Merger of Office Depot and Office Max Introduction This paper will discuss the merger of Office Depot and Office Max. The paper will also talk about the advantages of combining the two companies amongst other things. Specifically discussed will be the following: Description of firms, incentives to consolidate, competitive environment within the industry, effect on consumers, market concentration, benefit to firms and benefit to society. This paper will conclude with a summary. Description of firms Office Depot was the number two office supply company in the united states prior to their mergers with office max. It gained its reputation by being a global supplier of office products and services. Office depot began operations out of Boca Raton, Florida, United States of America. In 2014 the company had a combined annual sales of approximately $11.2 …show more content…
Another incentive is the right sizing of the organization which reduces expenditures on salary and the number of employees needed to function at an optimal level. It reduces the number of competitors in the industry. Competitive Environment within the Industry The 4 major competitors of office depot/office max are: Walmart, Staples, Amazon and Essendant incorporated. Walmart has a share of the market, but Staples and Amazon are Office depot/Office max biggest competitors. Staples tried to buy office depot, but it didn’t work out. Amazon has become a new threat by making more than 1 billion dollars in sales, in the first year of business in year 2015. Effect on Consumers The merger of Office max and Office depot has had a positive impact on consumers. Due to economies of scale, prices have declined which has increased the purchasing power of consumers. Office depot/Office max, have a wider presence as a combined company making it more convenient for consumers to purchase products Market
The Home Depot is recognized as being the leader in the home improvement retail industry by combining the economies of scale inherent in a warehouse format with a level of customer service unparalleled among warehouse-style retailers. ("Home Depot to", 1999)
In liasion, the company’s products include services for home improvement professionals and contractors. This marketing mix from Home Depot highlights the quality of service they wish to provide. On the other hand, the majority of the products at the firm’s stores are from third parties, such as equipment manufacturers. Home Depot’s multi-faceted product mix include building materials, lawn and garden products, and home appliances, among other things. Kitchen and garden products accounted for nearly 27% of revenues in fiscal 2014 making them the best-grossing product categories. (Exhibit*- Revenue by product
Home Depot was founded in 1978 by Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank in Atlanta, Georgia. With their store, Marcus and Blank revolutionized the do-it-yourself home improvement market in the United States. Home Depot began as a very basic store, operated in a large, no-frills warehouse. Home Depot carries over 35,000 products, with national brand names along with the Home Depot brand. At the start, Home Depot was able to offer exceptional customer service with knowledgeable employees who could guide customers through home renovation projects. Since its opening, Home Depot has experienced incredible growth, and today is North America's second largest retailer, and the largest home improvement retailer. Internationally, Home Depot has expanded into Canada, Mexico, and is beginning to operate stores in China. Home Depot's competition includes Sears, Ace Hardware and Lowes (the main competitor).
I will start with the history of Staples. Myra Hart, Leo Kahn and Thomas G. Stemberg founded Staples in the late 1980s. The company opened its first store in Brighton, Massachusetts on May 1, 1986. Staples, Inc. is the country's largest operator of office supplies superstores, offering a vast selection of products at low prices, primarily to small business owners. Staples pioneered this concept in 1986 and grew rapidly after opening its first store in the Boston area. The company subsequently expanded to areas outside the Northeast; by the early 2000s, there were about 1,300 Staples outlets located both in major metropolitan areas and smaller markets in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and 10 Canadian provinces. In addition to the retail oper...
In the year of 2005, the companies eventually found a way to make it easier for the companies to combine without having any major issues or problems. Unfortunately, around the year of 20010 the merging com...
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
Large players can offer competitive prices if they buy in bulk. Smaller players can differentiate themselves by offering niche products and superior customer delight at a premium price.
In general merchandise retailing, Wal-Mart’s primary competitors are Target and Kmart. Retail superstores such as Circuit City and Bed, Bath, and Beyond, also provide retail competition. A survey found that the majority of respondents favored Wal-Mart over stores like Target and Kmart. Respondents claimed Wal-Mart offered lower prices, better variety and selection, and good quality. The needs of consumers is an important economic feature in all competitive environments. What attributes (price, variety, quality, etc.) prompt buyers to choose one retailer over another is very important in the competitive landscape.
The purpose of this paper is to attempt to recompile information about the merger of two corporations; one of many taking places i...
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.
Since the home improvement market is highly competitive, Lowe’s needs to apply the best strategies to deal with Home Depot’s rivalry. This rivalry is as a result of the identical nature of the products handles by the two companies. The company should structure its distribution framework to pull down costs as the firm adjusts to changes in demand. The company should set a 6-month budget for research and development projects. To outperform Home Depot, Lowe’s should seek to expand its in-store services as well as the international operations.
Albertson's main competitor is Wal-Mart. The biggest component in this rivalry is product cost and price. Because of their superior supply chain and extreme buying power, Wal-mart is able to sell at lower prices and obtain higher profit margins. Another area of competition between the companies is the location and services available. Due to the extended services Albertson's offers such as a butcher, baker, and gourmet coffee bars, they are able to outperform Wal-mart in urban areas. Other than the current contenders in this market, I don't feel that Albertson's has any major worries such as new entrants or other substitutes.
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.
WALMART store inclusive is the largest retailer and the largest company in terms of revenue.
Wal -Marts' major competitors are the Kroger co. #2 in annual sales, Albertsons' Inc. #3, Safeway,Inc. #4, and Costco Wholesale Group #5. Now even though Wal- Mart is leading the way in total sales the #2 and #3 businesses lead in way with total # of stores. The Kroger Co. has 3,302 with Albertsons at 2,476 stores nationwide. Wal-Marts total sales for that year alone was beating its 2nd place competition alone by more than 80 billion dolla...