Preview

Value Chain

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
743 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Value Chain
Value Chain Analysis-Costco Corporation Brief on the Organization
Costco is among the leading global retailers which provide customers a wide range of merchandise, ranging from small to well-known brands. The company began operations in 1983. Over the years, Costco has been a retailer in low cost membership-only leader, in warehouse club of merchandise. Moreover, Costco does not offer frills warehouse business models as its competitors do. Costco’s major competitors are BJ’s Wholesale Club and Sam Club (Costco, 2010).
Applying the tools presented in this SSP, Costco provides a detailed analysis for transforming business operations relative to industry rivals. This is done in order to create profits and attain maximum shareholder’s value. A close examination of Costco’s Value chain suggests that the company uses a utilitarian approach, which maximizes the benefits for all stakeholders.
The Concept of Value Chain and Information Technology Impact
Nowadays, competitive advantage mainly derives itself through information technology in business models. Therefore, such supportive activities as information systems, R&D or general management are usually the most important source of differentiation advantage. Technology innovations continue to shape Costco’s value chain. Through information technology, Costco obtains strategic significance by changing the way companies operate.
The most important concept is the value chain an organization has entrenched itself in; incorporating communication increases cooperation which leads to the productivity process of connecting groups that create activities toward a value system. Costco usage of the smartphone applications is only used to make personal judgments and predict purchases. Costco utilizes social media platforms to enhance online shopping. The company continues to offer online shopping to its members. However, customer’s privacy is at risk using the smartphone data, and the corporation



References: Costco (2010). Why Become a Member. Gilmartin, B. (2014). Costco Earnings Preview: Superb Execution, Perennially Overvalued  Mascarenhas, O Porter, M. E., & Millar, V. E. (1985). How information gives you competitive advantage.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    By following these business values and adhering to its overall mission, Costco has been able to differentiate itself from other large-scale retailers and maintain increasingly profitable returns while also providing rewarding job opportunities for its employees and high quality products and an overall exceptional shopping experience for its…

    • 361 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    cotsco case

    • 2187 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Costco’s business model is focused on producing high sales volumes and rapid inventory turnover by offering members low prices on a limited selection of national name brands and select private-label products in a wide range variety. Costco is focused in low-cost strategy is concentrated on a narrow buy segment and out competing rivals by having lower costs, therefore being able serve a niche consumers at a lower price. (Gamble, John and Thompson, Arthur (2009).…

    • 2187 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Costco Swot Analysis

    • 167 Words
    • 1 Page

    As we look at our current economical status, we see how the global financial market is in turbulence due to changes in demographics. To subdue these changes Costco has constantly tried to pull in and retain customers. This allows them to keep a strong position in market share and acquiring profits. Costco is in the membership wholesale industry that provides merchandize at a much lower price than others. Although Costco is one of the biggest companies in the USA, there are many strengths and weaknesses in their strategy. Taken that Costco has many competitors, it must continue to respond to industry pressure through innovation. Considering the many accomplishments of Costco, there are many things they can improve on. Increasing profitability…

    • 167 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    costco

    • 794 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Costco is a members-only warehouse club retailer that provides low prices on a limited selection of nationally branded and selected private-label products.…

    • 794 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Costco is the greatest wholesale mega store in today’s market opening its first store in 1983 in Seattle, Washington. Its mission statement is "Costco 's mission is to continually provide our members with quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices. In order to achieve our mission we will conduct our business with the following Code of Ethics in mind: Obey the law, Take care of our members, Take care of our employees, and Respect our vendors. If we do these four things throughout our organization, then we will realize our ultimate goal, which is to reward our shareholders."…

    • 2316 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Costco Wholesale Corporation was created in 1983 when its first store opened in Seattle. Costco runs on a membership warehouse concept, which was first created by Price Club in 1976. Now, though Costco has only subsidiaries in eight countries, but Costco is the ninth largest retailers around the world, and is one of the most successful discount warehouse firms in North America. In 2008, Costco open the store in Australia. Through the leadership of Jim Sinegal, Costco has been able to create value for shareholders as well as consumers. Part of Costco’s strategy is to attract customers through a combination of low prices. Although it is a success strategy, they will not likely has the same level of success moving forward due to intense competition in the industry. Costco began its e-commerce business in November 1998. According to a Compete.com survey in 2008, the Costco’s website attracted at least 58 million visitors. In addition, Costco online shop provide the membership additional products which can not find in store, and also provide digital photo processing, pharmacy, travel, and membership services. However, Costco operates Costco Online, electronic commerce web sites only in Unite States, Canada and UK.…

    • 422 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Founded in 1976, Costco grew from its roots in Seattle, Washington in 1983 to a worldwide corporation expanding over 9 countries and gaining over 71 million members as of 2013 and a retention rate of over 90 percent. With this sort of power, Costco recognizes its leadership in an industry where imitation is causing sameness, something that originally set us apart from our competitors. We believe that the following should be our focus to enhance our business in order to separate ourselves…

    • 5738 Words
    • 23 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Costco: Laws Of Retailing

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Costco is basically a retail/wholesale store that defies the laws of retailing. They take the rules, bend, and do the complete opposite of it and makes a profit off of that strategy. Costco’s demographic is based on and catered to college-educated individuals with an annual salary of at least $100,000 a year. What makes them unique is that they do the opposite of what you see and know about most retail stores and they have become successful at doing that. This strategy alone is why Costco has become a multi-billion dollar company and has also beat competitors in their industry.…

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Costco Business Analysis

    • 771 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Costco is a retail warehouse wholesale club that offers a wide variety of quality brand-name merchandise. The founders James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman opened the first warehouse in Seattle, Washington in 1983. Keeping costs down and passing the savings on to the members has been their operating philosophy. (Costco, n.d.) Today there are more than 600 warehouses worldwide with sales exceeding $64 billion. (Costco, n.d.) With a yearly membership fee ranging from $35.00 to $100.00, this provides not only businesses but also households the ability to receive a better price. With eliminating the costs of conventional retailers, Costco is able to provide the best possible price to all members.…

    • 771 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Costco is the largest membership-only warehouse club in the United State. Costco was founded by Jim Sinegal and Jeffery Brotman in Seattle, WA in 1983. Costco has 680 stores in total. Costco keeps increasing its product categories and services in the recent few years. In the past, the store was focus on selling the bulk- packaged products. Costco ‘s mission is “to continentally provide members with quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices”, therefore the mission reflects on its business model and business strategies. Costco has its own private brand: Kirkland Signature, which provides great and wide product lines with lower price. The main competitors for Costco in the United State are Sam’s club and BJ’s Wholesale Club.…

    • 120 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Costco Wholesale

    • 1824 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Since 1983, Costco Wholesale has risen to the top as the most proficient, efficient, and effective wholesale distributors in the world. By using a strategy based around ultra-low prices, a limited selection of nationally branded private labeled products, a treasure hunt shopping environment and operating with low operating costs, as well as geographic expansion, Costco has been able to distinguish itself from its competitors as the leading wholesale provider in the world.…

    • 1824 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    Financial Ratios and Ratio

    • 4182 Words
    • 17 Pages

    Costco is a company with an inspiring story. They have revolutionized the shopping experience at its maximum, breaking the rules of grocery shopping experience. In addition, Costco Wholesales have a novel business concept compare to its major competitors, building millions of loyal customers and expanding across the world every year. The followings are the main reasons why I chose to analyze this company:…

    • 4182 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Costco Wholesale is a membership based warehouse store that strives to provide quality products at the lowest possible price. They believe this is possible by following its Code of Ethics, which include obey the law, take care of its members, take care of its employees, and respect its vendors.…

    • 286 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The concept of the value chain was primarily targeted toward manufacturing firms, in which the value of activities is mostly concerned with the physical flow of material, for example, acquiring raw material, manufacturing products, distributing products, marketing products, and installing or repairing the products for customer use. In the present digital age, a majority of firms are planning to conduct their business electronically, in which ‘‘information’’ becomes the main medium through which business transactions are exchanged. The extent to which e-commerce will affect the marketing of products and services will depend on the amount and the value of information that flows through the value chain. Over the years, some businesses have controlled almost all factors of production and distribution, for example Ford in early years, whereas others have outsourced almost everything, such as Dell. In the early days of industry, large enterprises controlled and owned most factors of production and businesses like Ford Motor Company in the USA had their own foundries, railroad, and electricity generating plants, In the…

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To recognize which activities are the most valuable to the firm and identify which ones could be improved to provide competitive advantage is essential for a better understanding of internal analysis within an organization. A chain of value-creating activities can be created to model the corporate, and offers individual activities because of the reflection of its history, its strategy, and its approach to execute its strategy. According to Michael Porter’s value chain, all activities can be separated into two main categories which are primary and support activities. The value chain represents the total value, and comprises of value activities and margin. The company implements these activities to make price that exceeds…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics