Competitive Strategy Of Couche-Tard's Retail Industry

The topic has been chosen for research is to critically evaluate the inventory management systems of retail industry in UK. This industry is continuously growing up with pleasure of customers even the fluctuation in customer choices. Moreover, this sector has been hugely impacted from 2008 to 2010 by the economic crisis, when customer did not have enough money to spend. As a result some retail businesses have incurred a loss and shut down their operation. Though some of the retailer took the challenge and continued their business to see the future success. But inaccuracy of stock count leads to poor availability in store level stock. Moreover employees’ inadequate level of skills and improper management clue to poor control of inventory management. As a result decrease the customer satisfactions therefore fall in revenues and ultimately collapse in profitability level. (Lussier, 2012)

The competition between the wholesale club industry is pretty strong but is mostly dominated by the three main competitors which are: Costco, Sam’s club and BJ’s Wholesale club. These three wholesale clubs for the most part dominate the industry and take away customers from other retail stores because they can offer much lower prices, brand name items and a wide variety of items to purchase from them. When it comes to shares of warehouse sales, Costco had roughly 56 percent of sales, Sam’s club had 36 percent and BJ’s wholesale had a low 8 percent. Unlike most retail stores, these three display all of their items on pallets or their inexpensive shelving which provides them with low cost on décor, labor and advertising.

Businesses especially those that operate in the same industry always try to emerge the best in the market by adopting different strategies so as to become more competitive. In the retail industry where goods move in volumes, proper management of the inventory can make a big difference by making a company to be more competitive as compared to the others. In most retail business, manipulation of the supply chain functions is one of the strategies that are used to give a retailer a competitive edge over its competitors. This research paper will compare how TJ Maxx and Ross manipulate their supply chain functions to gain a competitive edge over each other. Based on the available facts, the paper will make a determination on which of the companies

Retail super-giant Wal-Mart has fought its way to becoming the world's largest company. Wal-Mart’s legendary supply chain technology has allowed them to break the three-day barrier that some economists in the eighties felt that it was unbreakable. In other words, Wal-Mart is often able to replenish items on the Wal-Mart shelf in less than three days – not from the central warehouse to the shelf, but from the manufacturer to the shelf. With quick and reliable 2-day turn around, Wal-Mart is able to maintain lower levels of inventory and still meet customer demand. These lower inventory levels result in either a reduced floor plan with lower carrying costs and lower interest expense – or a greater diversity of products on the store shelves.

The Bargaining Power of Suppliers (Moderate): Most of the industry’s products are sourced and manufactured by a network of third parties. The supplier group is diluted compared to the industry; KMD alone has over 45 suppliers. There is credible threat of suppliers adopting forward integration resulting in loss of major suppliers and emergence of new competitors for the industry. Highly effective and specialised products will pose high supplier switching costs for industry firms.

Traditional retail stores cannot strictly be classified as competitors, because of their different operating methods. While retailers rely on consumers setting foot into their stores, Calyx & Corolla reaches out to its target market by way of catalogs, telemarketing, and in some cases, promotional tie-ins with selected retail stores. Even the approach of FTD follows more closely the traditional retail model than that of Calyx & Corolla. It is precisely for this reason that Ruth Owades saw an opportunity to delve into an unexplored market. However, while Calyx & Corolla enjoy a much higher operating gross per sale,

The industry does not possess major threat from new entrants due to strong barriers to entry and strong competition for retail space. There is also a strong rivalry between competitors as limited space is being contested by major players alongside

The suppliers get the advantages of making their products be showcased for the consumers thru these retailing outlets. A wider scope of retail outlets could mean wider scope for the brand recognition of the seller’s products, that is why these retailing giants has more power than suppliers. But when it comes to distribution, having a strong supplier is important, the company be better over competitors when it comes to qualitative factors such as on time deliveries on their branches and wider network of

By end of 90’s the company was dominant in many of the categories it competed in. The challenge was found in whether it can continue its dominance in it’s new, expanding product ranges and could maintain its dominance and synergy in its all categories on low and high price offering in hardware, home furnishings, office and house ware, while maintaining its management and corporate structures.

Suppliers in the industry seek buyers who can move a lot of merchandise in a short period of time. The threat of substitution is a big deal in this industry. Most retail stores carry the same types of products with little differentiation. This makes it difficult for companies in this industry to keep customers coming back. This places an emphasis on the need to build a good reputation with customers.

The Company currently offers over 6,000 products in these product categories. During fiscal 2000, the Company increased its store count by approximately 15%, with the addition of 47 new stores, including nine small-market stores and, as of December 2000, was operating more than 400 stores in 41 states. The Company anticipates opening approximately 60 stores in fiscal 2001.

Macy's is one of the premier retailer franchises within the United States. To begin, Macy's Inc. is one of the nation's largest and well known department store chains. Started over 150 years ago, Macy's has continually generated excellent returns for its shareholders and employees. Currently, in the midst of a global recession, Macy's has generated huge profits with same store sales increasing 5.3% year to date. In 2012 same store sales increased 4.6% in the month of February alone (Macy's Inc., 2012). In fact, throughout the duration of 2012, Macy's is projecting even larger profits for its underlying business operations. Even though Macy's has experienced success with both its assortments and brand, its competitors haven't faired so well. Sears, due in part to part to a lackluster holiday season, has been forced to close nearly 120 locations to generate excess liquidity in an effort to shore up its balance sheet (Isadora, 2011).Other competitors who cater specifically to the middle class consumer have also lost significant amounts of market share as consumers trade down due to the economy. Macy's, with its ride array of assortments and products continues to grow as it attempts to capture market share from failing competitors. Macy's is also unique as it operates in a unique market demographic. It is upscale, but not to the extent of Saks Fifth Avenue or a Nordstrom. It is also not as low scale as a JC Penny

Not all chained apparel specialists have performed well over the recent period. For example, apparel companies that run wholesale operations, as well as their own stores, have been vulnerable to the sluggishness of department stores in developed markets. Esprit and Benetton, notably, have lost market share ground. And Esprit in particular has been weakened by its overdependence on developed markets.

The socioeconomic class or the geographic area of East Texas regarding wealth, comfort, and materials available is measured by the gross domestic product ability to produce the goods and services to the population of East Texas. East Texas retailers must use analytical data to determine the market standards that provide the retailers the needed information to determine the number of possible customers in the market that has the means to purchase the goods or services. Retailers not in tone with the standard of living and consumer buying power may have a failed strategy for produce goods or services that cannot complete or even overpriced. Strategic decisions that would impact the retailing industry is disposal income and affordable pricing. The inability for retailers to identify these two standard of living factors can greatly impact retail sales.

Soft goods specialty retailers are on a quest to grow, with the high-growth ``stars’’ working to maintain momentum by rolling out successful concepts nationally while investing in new concepts that offer long-term promise. The less stellar performers are reinvigorating tired concepts and strengthening margins via better inventory and promotion management. A saturated marketplace will motivate more specialists at both ends of the spectrum to seek growth by building a portfolio of concepts focused on ever-finer