In the head competition between the two Costco always comes out on top in the bulk market sector. Both companies have great employee packages and programs which makes people to want to work there. This in turn causes an outstanding overall organizational
Publix is known as a retail or merchandising industry. Publix is known as one of the most productive food merchant in America. Admirably well tell, Publix is the most beneficial basic supply chain in the country: Its net edges, 5.6% in 2012, beat out Wal-Mart, Kroger, and Whole Foods. Publix has become the seventh-biggest privately owned business in the U.S. with over $28 billion in sales.
Alternative 3 (Amazon servers) Costco needs to have their information kept safe and secure. Arranging a partnership, with a third-party take care of their data will reduce the cost of employees, maintenance, warehouses, data corruption, and liability. Using a company server will allow Costco management to focus on other departments and areas that are a focus on achieving their mission statement and goals. Pros
Costco Wholesale Corporation strives to grow and expand through their competitive retail and pricing strategies in their market. As a retail firm, Costco depends on cusumer purchasing capacities (Gregory 2015). Costco offers a limited number of items that are afforadable quality services and goods to their consumers and believes it aids to their continued growing and expanding success. Costco is driven by cost leadership for their retailer store because they would rather maintain the lowest prices possible which enable customers to return. Costco largely relies on their pricing and retail strategy to continue sales and organization success.
Products that were not on the floor were stored in plain view on upper shelves. This fits into Costco’s retail strategy by showing customers that they are focusing
Costco inventory turnover for 2016 was 11.51 in the fiscal year for 2016 compared to 11.64 in 2015 fiscal year (Morningstar). Costco has Days in inventory totaled of 31.71 in 2016 and 31.36 in 2015 (Morningstar). Costco competitor has a way higher day on average, for example, Wal-Mart days on average is 44 day, Sear is 88 days. This means that Costco is the most operationally efficient retailer when it comes to inventory management. Costco inventory turnover is great compared to Wal-Mart and Sear, because of their consistent strategy to increase its inventory turnover and decreased the days' inventory spent in its warehouse to be able to compete with their biggest competitor, which is Wal-Mart.
In Costco’s macro-environment, a variety of factors could affect the company’s economic viability. External factors such as inflation, foreign currency exchange rates, levels of unemployment, reduced consumer confidence, and changes in tax policies could unfavorably affect the demand for Costco’s products and services. Prices of some goods and services including food products, are often variant and subject to fluctuations deriving from changes in domestic and foreign supply and demand, competition, taxes, labor costs, or delays in delivery which could significantly affect Costco’s sales. Therefore, the product’s costs and selling could also increase affecting financial results. Other important economic factors include the increasing international
In addition, Costco does a great job in their internal growth process with hiring (Loeb, 2015). Costco’s purchasers do well as they know their store locations and the local demographic’s desires. For instance, in Australia, the Costco there like Vegemite, so they have that there and not in U.S. locations (Loeb, 2015). Costco is smart with their distribution chains as they usually use 65% of local bought and specific products (Loeb, 2015). Globally, Costco has built trust within their brand as customers go to them for quality service, freshness, and a great selection of products.
3.0 Concepts 3.1 Resources and Capabilities In order to achieve and sustain competitive advantage, a business needs both resources and capabilities. Resources are assets that are owned or employed by an organization. The organization utilizes and uses these assets to carry out their business operations. Resources can be grouped either tangible assets or intangible assets.
Costco’s business model is centered around offering a smaller range of products at incredibly low prices which attracts the consumer. In order to supplement this lowered profit margin, they require their shoppers, both businesses and individuals, to purchase annual memberships. The membership fee accounts for a majority of the company’s profit. Furthermore, Costco operates its under a wholesale warehouse style which eliminates the need for excess handling and workers in the store. The stores are stocked to carry certain big ticket, ‘limited time offer’ goods so that customers feel the need to take advantage of the deal because it may not be there when they next return.
Key Trends – Globalisation One of the main opportunities Costco has is more global expansion to specific targeted countries. Although operating in many countries, Costco is heavily dependent on the U.S. and Canadian markets. It still has the opportunity to expand into the Asian and Australian markets where it has a limited presence. Costco has the capability to operate about 100 stores in Taiwan, Korea and Japan combined and about 20 stores in Australia. It currently has 41 stores in Taiwan, Korea and Japan combined and 6 stores in Australia.
Kmart’s supply chain includes organizations, resources, people, activities and information or moving products from supplier to end customer. It involves ordering to suppliers, transportation of products, storage of products in warehouse, moving products to Kmart stores and finally providing products to customers. Kmart supply chain takes care of entire flow from manufacturing to warehouse till stores. General merchandise and apparel products for Kmart are produced directly by factories located in Bangladesh, China, India, Cambodia and Indonesia. Illustration of Kmart using Porter’s Model:
Specifically, Ralph’s (similar stores are Vons and Albertson’s) and Whole Foods (similar stores are Gelson’s and Trader Joes) are two firms that utilize cost leadership and differentiation. On one hand, we have Ralph’s using cost differentiation by providing a broad range of merchandise at a decent price. On the other hand, we have Whole Foods that has implemented a differentiation strategy by marketing their merchandise as healthier (organic). The trade of for both companies is that they are attracting less consumers by just marketing to a specific crowed. For instance, if Whole Foods had lowered their price and still sold premium merchandise, soon Ralph’s would be in trouble.
Q. 2. Recent development in Technology has enabled huge global organizations to avail information easily in their premises for smooth functioning of various departments within an organization. Much of a company's success comes down to its Supply Chain Management and logistics. The development of Information Systems in SCM helps in cost reductions, customer satisfaction and productivity.
Burger King (BK) is an American global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants. Headquartered in the unincorporated area of Miami-Dade County, Florida, the company was founded in 1953. Burger King 's menu has expanded from a basic offering of burgers, French fries, sodas, and milkshakes to a larger and more diverse set of products. In 1957, the "Whopper" became the first major addition to the menu, and it has become Burger King 's signature product since.
