The Quest for Global Dominance: Transforming Global Presence into Global Competitive Advantage, Second Edition

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Lessons from the Globalization of Wal-Mart

We'll lower the cost of living for everyone, not just in America, [and] we'll give the world an opportunity to see what it's like to save and do better.

—Sam Walton, Founder, Wal-Mart¹

In 2007, Wal-Mart was the largest retailer in the world. Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, the company achieved sales revenues of $345 billion for the year ending January 31, 2007. Across the United States, Puerto Rico, and twelve other countries, Wal-Mart operated a diverse variety of retail stores ranging in size from as small as eight thousand square feet to as large as two hundred thousand square feet. Within the United States, the company operated four types of retailing outlets: Discount Stores, which offered ...