chain stores

, please talk about the downsizing/closing of major chain stores (ex. Sears, JC Penney, Best Buy, Gander Mountain, etc.) and provide support as to why you think this is occurring. Discuss the emerging online piece of strategy for all of these firms as well as for WalMart and Target (ex. Walmart just purchased JET–why did they do that?). Take this discussion any direction you wish but do bring out the what is happening from a strategic point of view.

An age-old question is “Does structure follow strategy or does strategy follow structure?” The new, successful firms appear to be on-line driven. They never really developed or wanted to develop a brick and mortar strategy. Is this truly the future, the destiny of retail and many other industries?

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Chain stores are retail outlets that share a common brand name and have one centralized management where policies and operations originate. Chain stores have dominated the market in the current economies due to their quality services which they provide to customers…

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