Updated:

Costco Wholesale External Analysis Case Study

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

PESTEL Analysis

Political factorsRegional regulations of about ten countries
Currency fluctuations
Complex relationships with such countries as China and Mexico
Economic conditionsLand cost containment
Consumer confidence that eliminates the need for extensive promotion
The number of businesses in the area
Stock exchange rate
Sociocultural forcesGeneral trends towards a healthy lifestyle (organic food consumption)
Environmental movements
Technological factorsNew gadgets
The expansion of e-commerce
More convenient software and functions for regional websites
Environmental factorsGlobal warming
Endangered animals
Legal/regulatory conditionsLegal requirements
Safety standards
Antitrust laws
Wage and hour laws
Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act
Local regulations from 11 countries and 45 US states
The Gold Level LEED

Some of the factors influencing Costco Wholesale are general, while others can be specific. The political aspect is not different from other international entities, although the limited number of countries prevents more issues (Thompson, 2021). Simultaneously, if Costco Wholesale can exist in global markets without difficulties, it will signify potential expansions. The company is dependent on such economic conditions as low land costs and the number of businesses, determining the viability of establishing new warehouses, although the initiative may lead to missing opportunities. Consumer confidence was initially facilitated by the company, which bore its fruits in the absence of necessity to promote, saving costs (Thompson, 2021). Sociocultural trends, such as organic food consumption and movements for environmental protection, impact the range and the quality of products (Thompson, 2021). Adhering to them is beneficial for the company for customer retention and publicity. Thus, based on the first three factors, the strategy may include global expansion, more lenient conditions for warehouse establishment, considering that Costco Wholesale can afford most spots, and respect for sociocultural trends.

The last three factors are no less important for selecting the right strategy. Technological ones positively impact the company’s growth, expanding the stock and allowing it to sell more via websites (Thompson, 2021). Therefore, properly supervising e-commerce platforms and adding new gadgets to the inventory are essential directions. Environmental factors, such as global warming and endangered species, compel the company to use other electricity sources and ensure that the products do not include rare animals (Thompson, 2021). The restrictive self-imposed policies may be beneficial, as customers will appreciate the company for its efforts. Lastly, it follows numerous regulations, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and wage and hour hours, increasing the norm mentioned in the latter, which makes Costco Wholesale popular among the existing and potential employees. Overall, the best strategy would be to continue the current course and emphasize the successful policies.

Five Forces Analysis

Five Forces Analysis

Most of Costco Wholesale’s five forces are strong, except for suppliers. They are easily interchangeable, allowing the company to continue its operation undisturbed, and the strategy in this direction should be reinforced. The power of buyers is strong, considering the membership aspect and their financial background, and changing anything may affect the company. Firms from other industries that share their products with Costco Wholesale are numerous, so it is important to maintain the appeal through low prices and other unique offers. Two main rivals exist, both with strengths that deserve to be studied and weaknesses, which can be used to the company’s advantage. Although it may seem that new entrants cannot threaten Costco Wholesale’s positions, it is still underrepresented in some countries, where local initiatives can easily become more successful, so strengthening global markets is paramount. Thus, the strategy for suppliers and buyers may remain the same, while other fields need attention.

Identifying the Driving Forces of Industry Change

  • Increasing globalization.
  • Improving Internet capabilities.
  • Technological change.
  • Environmental concerns.
  • Policy changes.
  • Product innovation.
  • Societal concerns and lifestyles.

According to the previous points, several driving forces can be distinguished. For instance, the need to expand the international market indicates the increasing globalization, which makes it more desirable to reach new countries. The improving Internet capabilities simplify the selling process, contribute to expansion, and eliminate the need to establish new warehouses. Technological change impacts both the selection range and the means of production, opening the possibility for sustainability. Environmental concerns also have implications, from energy concerns to the merchandise variety. Consequently, some policies may explicitly state whether certain practices are forbidden considering the situation, forcing the company to comply. Product innovation expands the stock and makes the available items more ecologically friendly, which is a selling point for a group of customers. Lastly, societal norms and lifestyles influence what appropriate or worthy of censure, so it is important to navigate the complicated field and accept the new norms. A socially, ecologically, and culturally conscious company has more chances to survive and prosper in a complex world.

Competitor Analysis

Costco WholesaleSam’s ClubBJ’s Wholesale Club
Current Strategy
  • Low pricing (urban customers);
  • Wide product selection;
  • Treasure-hunt merchandising;
  • Low-cost emphasis;
  • Subdued marketing (coupons)
  • Servicing small businesses and suburban customers;
  • Cheaper and less upscale treasure-hunt items;
  • Enticing its members to purchase add-ons
  • Focus on New England;
  • Improving customer experience;
  • More robust website sales;
  • Low prices;
  • Cost discipline
Resources and capabilitiesStrengths:
  • Loyal customer base
  • Adherence to various trends
  • Convenient payment terms
  • Flexible warehouse management
  • Employee retention

Weaknesses:

  • Reliance on economic conditions
  • Unstable international positions
  • Self-restrictive nature
Strengths:
  • Walmart’s support
  • Stability

Weaknesses:

  • International presence
  • Location closures due to underperformance
Strengths:
  • Strong presence in the target area
  • Adaptability

Weaknesses:

  • Product range that mostly matches supermarkets
  • Instability in the business entity
ObjectivesTo be sustainable, to continue providing the best goods at the lowest price, and to respect all stakeholdersTo provide customers with quality merchandise, to sell it at low-profit margins, and to offer a superior shopping experienceTo grow the customer base and continue improving its experience while offering benefits
AssumptionsBelieves itself to be the market leaderAn important part of WalmartThe market leader in New England states
Strategic moves and outcomesIncreased minimum wage, facilitating employee satisfaction and loyaltyStrengthened online presence, leading to a better revenueImproved customer experience and limited inventory shrinkage, decreasing costs and slightly improving the revenue
Last available net sales (in millions)$152,703$58,792$12,888.6

Compared to its competitors, Costco Wholesale has more visible strengths, although its weaknesses are also considerable. While the companies are similar in some aspects, such as objectives and pricing policies, they possess different resources and implement those strategies that benefit them. What Costco Wholesale should do to separate itself from the rivals further is to strengthen its international positions, maintain stability, continue to adapt to new trends, and diversify its products to minimize substitutions.

Key Success Factors & Industry Outlook for Profitability

  • Pricing and quality.
  • Sustainability.
  • Employee satisfaction.
  • Low-cost locations.
  • Robust membership.

Costco Wholesale owns its success to the combination of pricing and quality, employee satisfaction, customer loyalty, and viable strategic decisions, such as sustainability and low-cost locations. Facilitating them in the future is an essential component of preserving the company’s success and reputation. Its profitability largely depends on how well it will adhere to the changing trends and regional sensibilities, considering that innovations may initially lead to losses. As the industry leader, Costco Wholesale influenced the model of its competitors, so it should lead them to a more sustainable but attractive future.

Reference

Thompson, A. A. Jr. (2021). Case 3: Costco Wholesale in 2020: Mission, business model, and strategy. In A. Thompson et al. (Eds.), Crafting & executing strategy: The quest for competitive advantage: Concepts and cases (23rd ed., pp. C18-C42). McGraw-Hill Education.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2022, July 19). Costco Wholesale External Analysis. https://ivypanda.com/essays/costco-wholesale-external-analysis/

Work Cited

"Costco Wholesale External Analysis." IvyPanda, 19 July 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/costco-wholesale-external-analysis/.

References

IvyPanda. (2022) 'Costco Wholesale External Analysis'. 19 July.

References

IvyPanda. 2022. "Costco Wholesale External Analysis." July 19, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/costco-wholesale-external-analysis/.

1. IvyPanda. "Costco Wholesale External Analysis." July 19, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/costco-wholesale-external-analysis/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Costco Wholesale External Analysis." July 19, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/costco-wholesale-external-analysis/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1