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Why Did Walmart Fail Beyond US and Can It Succeed Overseas?
14 May 2017 (Sunday)
Compiegne, France
I was still grappling with the culture shock, being outside of India for the first time. I was in France for a summer internship. Sunday is usually the shopping day in India. However, the differences in the shopping culture between India and Europe sank in me when I went to the nearby Intermarché and Carrefour only to return disappointed.
So, I learned it the hard way that supermarkets are closed on Sundays in France, Germany, Belgium, and some other Western European countries. Moreover, they are open from just 8 AM to 8 PM on the weekdays and closed on public holidays and Sundays.
On the other hand, their American counterpart Walmart has Superstores that are open 24X7. Walmart sells almost everything that a household needs and most importantly, at a lower price.
On the other hand, their American counterpart Walmart has Superstores that are open 24X7. Walmart sells almost everything that a household needs and most importantly, at a lower price.
Despite offering low-cost products with significant investment in technologies to change your shopping experience, it failed to take off in South Korea, India, and Europe. Here is my take on its failure overseas and what are its future…
