Where does the companies get the name ‘big box’? The companies gained this title due to their physical characteristics; that is their extensive footage, broad line-up of items available for sale, windowless and squared display, and their location in residential areas. They are usually referred to the enormous and destroyer stores such as Wal-mart, Best Buy, Sears, and Home depot. For the past few decades, these companies have shaped the economy and physical landscape of various countries, such as America, Canada. In the United States, the most popular country, these companies are the most gigantic and moneymaking companies there are to be found. Even though these stores have a positive impact on the world, many local residents are affected by the costs related to the management and development of these companies. The government should mandate that all 'Big Box' companies give back to their communities so as not to undercut small local businesses or local retail shop or enterprises, to fight poverty, and to promote an environmentally friendly and healthy environment.
Firstly, the 'Big Box' companies have helped to increase productivity and caused consumer prices to fall. They use high-volume sales against price mark-ups to generate profits; therefore, they are often able to sell their goods at lower prices, which attract more clients to purchase in their companies compared to small local and independent stores. The higher is be the number of consumers, the higher is the profit. But, these stores have mainly an impact on local low-income residents and retail shops. With the large amount of money they have, they invest it in advertising, special promotions; therefore the chains are able to undermine small regional shops and crus...
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...y are largely contributing to the welfare of the local residents and shops? It is unfair to penalize these companies to the detriment of the community. The government has no right in imposing such discriminatory law against these ‘big box’ companies. These laws will have a negative impact on the sustainability of the company, thus resulting into a bankruptcy.
To conclude, ‘big box companies’ should integrate a win win business model in the form of Corporate Social Responsibility by engaging in social actions which have a positive impact on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public. This creation of shared value is based on the idea that corporate success and social welfare are interdependent. A business needs a healthy, educated workforce, sustainable resources and adept government to compete effectively.
In order to gain the success it has had, Wal-Mart has no doubt affected small businesses. But in the place of small business Wal-Mart has been able to do far more for Americans than small businesses could. It provides consumers inexpensive necessities for life, it provides work for those who would otherwise have none, and it has a stake in the global economy that benefits our own with trading. Wal_mart
It seems as though these retailers should be welcome with open arms when they look into building one of their mega-stores in America’s mid-sized communities. Closer inspection, however, should make citizens think twice before opening their communities to these corporations. Job loss, negative impact on the local economy and the low wages these stores pay are just a few reasons why big box retailers do more harm than good to the communities in which they locate.
Walmart is bad for America, as some say. The Globalization essay that was handed out in class had many good points. It states that Walmart puts many smaller businesses out of service. A recent study by David Neumark of the University of California at Irvine and two associates at the Public Policy Institute of California, "The Effects of Wal-Mart on Local Labor Markets," uses sophisticated statistical analysis to estimate the effects on jobs and wages as Wal-Mart spread out from its original center in Arkansas. The authors find that retail employmen...
When Wal-Mart establishes itself in a town, it makes its competitors to close their businesses since they cannot compete in the current market. There are several businesses that go out of business when this company sets up a branch in the town. However people don’t agree with this since customers are the ones who go to purchase goods from Wal-Mart. If there are people who should be blamed are the customers since they flock into the retail market to buy from them. This is the reason why these retail businesses are out of business. The reason that makes customers go to shop at Wal-Mart is that, there is ample parking, low prices and they also provide superior goods and services to the customers.Down town destruction started earlier before Wal-Mart was established. Wal-Mart is trying to bring with it new technologies that are aimed to cope with the current technologies. We ought to find new ways of doing things and this is exactly what is happening with Wal-Mart. For instance, Wal-Mart might be embracing technology to supplant it. Internet shopping might be some of the new business technologies that they are trying to embrace.
A Macro-Sized Microcosm describes how Wal-Mart is a ‘macro-sized microcosm’ for America’s socioeconomic problems. New technology in the marketplace has created a conflict between labor and capital. This is ruining the U.S. manufacturing base. This reading states that Wal-Mart benefits by relying on suppliers and subcontractors. Wal-Mart buyers demand the lowest price possible, making it competitive with their suppliers. A way they do this is by adding cost efficiencies. These demands make it difficult for suppliers to provide employees with decent wages and suitable working conditions. The government endorses these circumstances. The federal and state governments support Wal-Mart with about $4 billion. This includes “free or reduced price land, tax breaks, sales tax rebates, state corporate income tax” et cetera. Most Wal-Marts in the U.S. receive government subsidy. This makes the price of commodities low and keeps them ahead of the
The corporate social responsibility is a commitment by a business to contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life for employees and their families’ as-well as contributing to the society. Walmart is a well-known company that offers customers the items they want and need at a low cost, with nearly 4,000 stores in the United States. According to the Fortune 500, Walmart was ranked number 1 in 2015. Just like any other superstore Walmart needs to continue the use of social responsibility by recreating a relationship between business and the community especially if they want to dominate the competition in 2016. The use of sustainability, strategic philanthropy, causing market, shared values, stakeholders and global perspective will help readers understand the purpose of social responsibilities in the corporate world.
An organization’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) drives them to look out for the different interests of society. Most business corporations undertake responsibility for the impact of their organizational pursuits and various activities on their customers, employees, shareholders, communities and the environment. With the high volume of general competition between different companies and organizations in varied fields, CSR has become a morally imperative commitment, more than one enforced by the law. Most organizations in the modern world willingly try to improve the general well-being of not only their employees, but also their families and the society as a whole.
Firms with market power or monopolies are often seen as detrimental for customers and economic welfare. According to the neoclassical theory, the market power of monopolies and oligopolies is potentially higher than that of firms in monopolistic or perfect competition since they have to face very limited competition, if any (Ferguson and Ferguson 1994). In monopolistic or perfect competition can make supernormal profits in the short term but eventually other firms will enter the market and offer alternative products that reduce the demand for the established firm’s products (Sloman et al., 2013 p. 177). Dissimilarly, this is not the case for dominant firms or monopolies; the lack of competition allows them to set prices and make supernormal profits increasing the perception that big companies are “bad” for consumers. As shown by the graphs in Figure 1 and 2, there are substantial differences in the competitive and monopoly markets. In a competitive environment, the equilibrium is reached where demand meets supply. In a monopolistic market, thanks to the establishment of higher prices and the production of lower quantities, monopolies or dominant firms make supernormal profits; additionally, there is a deadweight loss and some consumers who were willing to pay lower prices wil...
Walmart has had a long-standing presence in America society since the middle of the 20th century, seen as a place to get everything done, Walmart has become a fixation in our society. From grocery shopping, to changing your oil and even filing your annual tax returns, Walmart is always there, everyday. Started by Sam Walton in 1962, it began as a small operation catering to a small Arkansas community. It was started on principles very similar to small local businesses in small towns. Today Walmart has gotten a different, darker reputation. On the surface, Walmart may seem like the solution to everyday issues. Low-income families are attracted to the low prices, and people who work odd hours benefit greatly from the 24 hours a day that many Walmarts are open. Lately, Walmart has also managed to be publicly recognized as a store that sells many of today’s green products, including organic food, environmental conscious cleaning products, as well as, paper products made from recycled paper. However, underneath all this, Walmart has a different side. Exploitation of its workers is widespread amongst Walmarts who do not belong to a union, especially in the United States. Wal...
Covey & Brown (2001) “the role of business in society has progressed over the years, from being primarily concerned with profit for sharehold¬ers to a stakeholder and community approach with a focus on corporate social responsibility”
Green and sustainable companies has made social responsibility an important part of their business models.
The arguments for and against corporate social responsibility have captured two points of view. Those who believe that organizations should not be concerned about social responsibility base many of their arguments on the costs involved and whether organizations should shoulder those costs on behalf of society. And those who are in favor feel that organizations benefit from society and, therefore, have an obligation to improve it. Although there is no universal agreement, surveys and other reports express that many organizations are, becoming increasingly active in addressing social
Walmart needed high levels of growth to continue to survive and saturation of domestic market. Global retail expansion has attracted many large-sized companies with targets to increase business profits and market share. Global expansion not only attracts large organizations but also small to medium-sized companies, companies new to international expansion, as well as those who are already expanding in the international arena. However, there are also well-known retailers who failed in their expansion in certain global markets due to regulatory, legal and cultural challenges, competition, and attempting to change local shopping behavior. The lower pricing strategy was their basic strategy to expand Walmart’s philosophy, “Every Day Low Price” to all parts of the world. The only challenge was the distribution system; the company had given in to union demands from the state-run. Walmart was not influenced. The marketing strategies still involved huge discounts and great values on all of their products, similar to strategies in their home country: maintaining low prices every day, especially middle-class customers, yet maintaining profits. They also suggested
While the concept of an individual having responsibility is commonly recognized, modern views have lead to the emerging issue of corporate responsibility. Business Directory.com defines corporate social responsibility as, “A company’s sense of responsibility towards the community and environment (both ecological and social) in which it operates. Companies express this citizenship (1) through their waste and pollution reduction processes, (2) by contributing educational and social programs, and (3) by earning adequate returns on the employed resources.” But such a concept has been much disputed since at least the 1970’s.
Both of these areas are the lifeblood of the company, and any benefit to them should not be overlooked. Before a company can become proficient at corporate social responsibility, they must first know its definition. Corporate social responsibility is defined as actions that can be taken by a company to ensure they are adhering to ethical and social responsibilities of the day. These corporate social actions are self-regulatory, as a company strives to adhere to guidelines while also going above and beyond being a Good Samaritan in the business world (ECA, 2015). This can place certain businesses at the forefront in customers mind because of the example they are setting in the marketplace. A company going above and beyond the call of duty to work towards a more philanthropic approach in the surrounding community is a perfect example for corporate social responsibility. Going deeper into the definition, corporate social responsibility acts like a “double bottom line” for a company, as they strive to achieve financial goals, but also achieve their social mission out in the community. Once a company is aware of what the concept of corporate social responsibility is, they can now implement it and start to reap the many benefits of its