Expanding to Foreign Markets: The International Operations of Best Buy, Carrefour, HP & Wal-Mart

In today's world, countries all over the globe are closer than ever. Areas that were once seemingly impossible to reach are now only a phone call or a click of the mouse away. The exchange of people, ideas, and goods between the various nations is endless each day. As a result, it is no longer possible for American businesses to ignore other nations. In the end, all expanding companies must eventually consider if they should begin operating internationally and how they might successfully reach these unique markets. Let us explore how four international companies-(1) Best Buy, (2) Carrefour, (3) Hewlett-Packard, and (4) Wal-Mart-have successfully expanded to reach countless consumers in regions all over the world.

Best Buy

Best Buy first began operating internationally in 2001 when the corporation obtained Future Shop, which was "Canada's leading consumer electronics retailer" (Best Buy, 2008, It began with Canada. section). Then, Best Buy expanded overseas to China in 2003 and then Europe in 2007. Currently, the company has plans to open stores into two other countries: Turkey and Mexico (Best Buy, 2008). Ultimately, this corporation takes a unique approach to operating internationally: "International expansion has two important facets. It gives us access to more growth opportunities, and it gives us access to a globe of talent, ideas and new perspectives" (Best Buy, 2008, Why expand globally? Section). Furthermore, Best Buy recognizes that no two regions or countries are exactly alike. Therefore, the company must tailor its stores specifically for each new country and/or region it expands to, before it can truly meet the needs of its new customers (Best Buy, 2008).

Carrefour

Carrefour has expanded much more globally than Best Buy. This second corporation operates a variety of stores internationally: hypermarkets, supermarkets, hard discount, convenience stores, and cash and carry. Carrefour has stores in eight European countries-Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Roumania, Spain, and Turkey-, four American countries-Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Portugal-, and seven Asian counties-China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand (Carrefour Group, n.d.a). In the end, this company also recognizes how the customer's needs and expectations vary from one place in the world to another. Thus, Carrefour gives each store manager a considerable amount of power to mold their individual locations into stores that can truly satisfy the needs of each unique area (Carrefour Group, n.d.b).

Hewlett-Packard

Hewlett-Packard actually expanded overseas early on in its history. In 1959, HP created an organization in Switzerland for marketing in Europe, as well as a manufacturing plant in Germany. And it has continued steadily expanding since (Hewlett-Packard, 2008c). Today, HP operates in over 170 different nations (Hewlett-Packard, 2008a) from our neighbors (i.e., Canada and Mexico) to nations across the globe (i.e., China and Australia) to underserved regions of the world (i.e., the Czech Republic and Estonia) (Hewlett-Packard, 2008b). However, no matter where in the world HP might reach, it aims to partner with local companies to develop products that fit the customers of each region (Hewlett-Packard, 2008c), helping "people and companies address their problems and challenges, and realize their possibilities, aspirations and dreams" (Hewlett-Packard, 2008a).

Wal-Mart

Finally, consider the international operations of a fourth major corporation: Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart first became an international company in 1991 with the opening of a Sam's Club in Mexico. Currently, the corporation operates stores in twelve other foreign countries/regions-Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom. All in all, Wal-Mart has an unusual method to its international operations. No matter the region, it continues to adhere to its fundamental goals and mission. However, this company is not afraid to change its outward appearance, even down to its name, to create a shopping experience that will both be satisfying and unique to each region (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., n.d.).

References:

Best Buy. (2008). About Best Buy: international growth. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from http://209.68.2.47/bbco/about/international_growth.htm

Carrefour Group. (n.d.a). Our network of stores: Consolidated network. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from http://www.carrefour.com/cdc/group/our-business/our-network-of-stores/#

Carrefour Group. (n.d.b). Our strategy. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from http://www.carrefour.com/cdc/group/our-strategy/

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (2008a). About us. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (2008b). Search other countries/regions. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from http://search.hp.com/othercountriessch.html?charset=iso-8859-1&la=en&hpvc=sitewide

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (2008c). Text timeline. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/timeline/hist_30s.html

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (n.d.). About us: International. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from http://walmartstores.com/AboutUs/246.aspx