Chapter 694
Bentonville, Arkansas, is a small town with a permanent population of less than [-].

However, it is here that the global retail giant Wal-Mart was born, and Wal-Mart's headquarters has always been set up here, and it has never considered moving to a big city.

After getting off the plane, I took the car sent by Wal-Mart headquarters, and after several hours of long journey, I finally arrived at Wal-Mart headquarters.

Here, Yu Wenfei met the current leader of Wal-Mart, the eldest son of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, Robson Walton!

Robson, in his 40s, does not look like a man in charge of a retail empire with a market value of hundreds of billions of dollars, but a kind neighbor.

Tall and thin, with pale blond hair, and a pair of rimless glasses on the high bridge of the nose.

Wal-Mart's headquarters building is not very eye-catching. It is a very ordinary office building with gray and white exterior walls. It occupies a large area. The front of the building is like a park with a large lawn.

Robson was also very face-saving, and personally came to the gate of the building to wait for the arrival of Yu Wenfei and his party.

"Is this Mr. Fei whom Mike is full of praise for? I've heard of you a long time ago."

Robson warmly gave Yu Wenfei a hug and said affectionately.

This is how foreigners express their friendliness.

Yu Wenfei responded with a smile: "Mr. Robson, I am Yu Wenfei. I have wanted to visit you at the Wal-Mart headquarters for a long time. I have many questions and I want to get your guidance. This time I finally have the opportunity."

"Haha, we are a small town here, and Wal-Mart is just a grocery seller. My level is not as high as it is advertised in the newspapers. Don't be disappointed with Mr. Fei." Robson laughed.

"You are welcome, Wal-Mart is the most influential company in the United States, creating jobs for millions of people." Yu Wenfei said hastily.

I took Yu Wenfei and the others for a brief tour of Wal-Mart's headquarters. To be honest, there is nothing to visit. Wal-Mart is a retail company, not a technology company like IBM. You can visit the R&D department and discuss cutting-edge technologies. Category.

And Wal-Mart headquarters, mainly the financial department and the global procurement department, are busy with the sound of making phone calls everywhere.

After returning to Robson’s office and sitting down, Robinson sighed and said: “Mr. Fei has already started to lead several big companies at such a young age. When I was your age, I was still playing football in college.

When I was younger, I helped out in my dad’s grocery store, moving boxes, tidying up goods, or doing some cleaning. My dad paid me by the hour. My pocket money when I was studying was earned by working at home. here. "

The Walton family's children's education is pretty good. Just like Robson said, since childhood, the brothers and sisters have to work in the store.

Although the family was relatively wealthy at that time, none of them developed the bad habits of the "rich second generation".

After studying in college, Robson did not study so-called business management, but majored in accounting, and then read a doctorate in law.

After he graduated with a Ph.D., Wal-Mart had already expanded its business across the country, with hundreds of stores, and the business was very big.

Ordinarily, as the eldest son, he should return to work in the family business and prepare for taking over the business in the future.

But no, Robson went to work in an accounting firm instead, practiced outside for nearly ten years, got married twice, and gave birth to three children before officially returning to the family.

Yu Wenfei thought to himself, when I was a child, I also wanted to help out in the store at home and earn some pocket money, but it's a pity that my father didn't live up to it!

After chatting for a while, before turning to the topic, Yu Wenfei said seriously: "I came to visit Mr. Robson this time, and I actually want to ask you for your help."

Robson grinned, and said kindly: "It's for the acquisition of IBM's personal computer business. I've heard about it. It's said that our American business atmosphere is relaxed, but in fact it's not, especially for you foreign countries. Investors, there are still quite a lot of restrictions. But it is not difficult to handle. The business that IBM sells to you does not have any high-tech, so it is not a big problem to pass the review.

Well, I'll call some friends back and ask them to talk to you, it should be done soon. "

Some things are very difficult for many people, and it is difficult to get to the sky.

But for others, it's an easy fix.

After talking about this matter, the two chatted enthusiastically about the impact of the Internet on the retail industry. After all, Yu Wenfei also worked in the supermarket industry, and now he is working in the Internet, so he has a better understanding of this aspect.

"Recently, I have been thinking about whether traditional retail models such as Wal-Mart, Carrefour, and even Costco will be gradually eliminated. In Europe and the United States, e-commerce companies such as Amazon and EBAY have developed very rapidly in recent years. Only books and video products are sold, and then personal second-hand goods are replaced, and then gradually expanded to department stores.

In a few years, it is estimated that even daily necessities and fresh vegetables will be sold online. I am also wondering whether Wal-Mart will also establish an online supermarket. said Robson, frowning.

In fact, around 2003, e-commerce websites were no threat to giants like Wal-Mart and Carrefour.And in those few years, it was the time when Wal-Mart "siege cities and conquer territories" around the world, and it was at the peak of the company's development.

However, Robson is at the helm of the company. He must be able to see the development trend in the next five or even ten years, and he must consider the development in a few years.

Therefore, recently, he likes to chat with elites in the Internet industry about e-commerce issues in order to get more information and inspiration from others.

Yu Wenfei thought for a while, Robson still helped him. Although the favor was owed by the acquisition of Knorr Supermarket, this time he readily agreed, and he will deal with him in the future, so this time he also A little "real stuff" can be revealed to him.

Regardless of whether Robson listens or not, in fact, Robson will most likely not listen to himself, because Wal-Mart's business philosophy is quite conservative!
It is impossible to change the business direction set by Old Sam just because of his own words.

But these words, whether you say it yourself or not, the difference is quite big.

As time goes by, as e-commerce further invades the traditional retail market, and as Wal-Mart slowly declines, Robson will think of what he said today.

At that time, Robson will realize how accurate his predictions are!
It also paved the way for the two to cooperate again in the future.

"Mr. Robson, perhaps Wal-Mart's development is still very smooth now, and it keeps opening stores all over the world, and its sales are increasing year by year.

However, with the popularization of the Internet, all business forms will be changed!Among them, the most affected industry is the retail industry!
It is not very obvious now, because many families do not have computers and do not have the conditions to surf the Internet.Moreover, the basic conditions such as online payment and logistics and express delivery are not sound enough, which largely restricts the development of e-commerce.

But these can be improved. In a few years, you may be surprised to find that consumers seem to be lazy. They will sit in front of the computer at home and buy electronic products, clothes and shoes, daily necessities, and even vegetables. Melons and fruits, everything he needs can be bought online!
At the same time, the rent of physical stores is getting higher and higher, and the labor is getting more and more expensive. The rent and labor will become the biggest cost in the traditional retail industry, and the operating costs of supermarkets will also be unprecedentedly high.

In comparison, online e-commerce does not have these costs. They do not need stores, and do not need a large number of tally clerks and cashiers.Moreover, an online store can target consumers all over the country or even around the world!
This is completely unmatched by traditional supermarkets!
If you want to hear my advice, then start building your own e-commerce website now!

immediately!immediately! "

In fact, Yu Wenfei deliberately exaggerated a bit. In fact, after the rise of e-commerce, Wal-Mart's life is indeed not so easy.

Even in 2019, Wal-Mart's market value is less than half that of Tencent, let alone Amazon.

In 2003, Robson had never heard of what Tencent was doing.

However, in terms of annual sales, Wal-Mart still has to beat Tencent. Among the top [-] companies in the world, Wal-Mart still ranks first!

However, the market value does not only look at sales, but also considers factors such as profit margins and development prospects.

………………

After hearing Yu Wenfei's words, Robenson was stunned for a while, he never expected that Yu Wenfei's words were so absolute!
This means that Wal-Mart is not optimistic about the current situation at all.

but……

Wal-Mart is clearly at the peak of its history, with global expansion and annual sales hitting new highs.

In the ranking of the world's top [-], it has won the championship for several years in a row, and the company's market value is about to break trillions of dollars!
Will online e-commerce really develop to that extent as Yu Wenfei said?

Although Amazon has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, and its market value has been rising day by day, Robson still looks down on Amazon from the bottom of his heart.

Because Wal-Mart's annual revenue is hundreds of billions of dollars!

What about Amazon?

The annual turnover does not exceed 50 billion US dollars!
Moreover, it has been established for ten years, and has never made a profit, and has lost money every year!
And Amazon is already the benchmark in the e-commerce industry, the one with the best performance and the highest market value...

Is such a so-called Internet e-commerce company worthy of being compared with its own Wal-Mart?

Therefore, he is skeptical about Yu Wenfei's "prophecy".

"Is the Internet developing so fast? But... I always think that when people buy goods, if they can see the real thing with their own eyes, touch it, or try it out, the sense of satisfaction and happiness they bring is real. .And Internet e-commerce cannot bring people such a consumption experience.” Robson spoke a little fast.

(End of this chapter)

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