Summary
Wal-Mart is opening state-of-the-art retail centers incorporating upgraded merchandizing, improved product offerings, energy efficiency, and environment. The improvements in these new stores are long overdo and will make Wal-Mart a welcome retail center of many communities.
Analysis
Wal-Mart is opening new state-of-the-art retail centers in Texas. The retail center highlighted in this article is in Highland Village, Texas a town near Dallas, and another is in Plano, Texas.
The retailer has opened several new stores in Texas that will upgrade its appearance at all levels. The improvements Wal-Mart is making will cut through all areas of the stores merchandizing and efficiency. Wal-Mart is making the improvements that are necessary to make shopping at Wal-Mart a rewarding experience.
The retailer has redesigned the outside of the its stores to blend into the local environment architecturally blending into local styles, and creating a green and friendly experience for the shopper upon entering the retail center. Bicycle paths and entrances have been added in areas where bicycling is common. This is a great idea as I am an ardent bicyclist who often rides my bicycle to the store. It is not just me riding bicycles, with energy prices increasing, bicycles are a hot item right now. Checking number of bids on ebay is one way to learn what products are selling and I have recently sold 3 bicycles for nice sums on ebay, without much difficulty.
Wal-Mart is working with the communities to improve the local environment. This is important softening local shoppers and local politics. Creating a friendly image is essential for a store that may soon offer complete services including banking, medical, internet, and foods, in addition to consumer goods. Wal-Mart will become the center of many small towns, and as such image and politics becomes important.
Wal-Mart is making its new stores 100% reliant on renewable energy sources, using alternative energy sources such as wind turbines and solar panels. Store design is used to reduce energy use, and attempts are being made to reduce energy waste. LED lighting is being used to improve energy efficiency within the store. This makes great sense in stores as large as Wal-Mart, and the new stores are large, the store in Highland Village measuring 203,000 square feet. Energy is becoming very expensive, and Wal-Mart is making an essential adjustment to reduce the future operating costs of its stores by making itself energy efficient and self-reliant.
Upon entering the store you will see that merchandizing has been upgraded. This is long overdo. The size of the store has been increased to reduce overcrowding. Modern and pleasant merchandize displays are being incorporated. Large signs are being used to designate product areas making it easy to find products. Displays are colorful, easy to see, and clean. The stores allow for high visibility of the entire store, and category stores within the store have been created for different product areas.
Product offerings are also being improved. Wal-Mart is not increasing prices, it is remaining a discount store. It is improving the quality of the product, and it is offering greater variety, for example making a $2,000 bicycle available along with its less expensive brands. The addition of variety will improve sales at all levels, offering greater choice and building the consumer confidence of shoppers.
New categories such as expanded food and grocery sections are evident. Deli counters, pastry counters, and improved selection of foods such as seafood kept on ice, meat department, bakery, health foods, cosmetics, and pharmacy. With food prices increasing nationally these are needed product improvements that will compete with stores as Krogers and Whole Foods. All of these items are merchandized in clean and appropriate fixtures. Regardless of the improvements Wal-Mart states that it is not going upscale, and is remaining a discount retailer.
The improvements being made at Wal-Mart, and the new expanded product offerings, are welcome. They will improve the consumer shopping experience and increase sales. Wal-Mart will continue to penetrate these new markets and is making the improvements necessary to remain a force in retailing, and to offer the necessary services to communities that will make it a success in the present economic climate, and make Wal-Mart into a welcome retail and town center in many communities.
