Kmart Corporation battles in an extremely competitive business. Their two strongest competitors are Wal-Mart and Target. All three discount companies began in 1962, but they have traveled exceptionally different paths in order to arrive at their present state.
             Wal-Mart was created by Sam Walton in 1962; the first store was located in Rogers, Arkansas. In 1970 Wal-Mart went public causing growth acceleration with the corporation. Wal-Mart's next big step was automation; they established high automated distribution centers to reduce shipping time and implemented an advanced information system to track inventory, accelerate check-out, and speed up reordering. In 1983, Wal-Mart entering the warehouse business by opening its Sam's Clubs. Wal-Mart also began developing super centers; super centers carry a full line of groceries as well as the same products in the traditional Wal-Marts. By the 1998 Wal-Mart had grown to the world's largest retailer operating with 1869 discount stores, 564 super centers, 451 Sam's Clubs, and 600 foreign stores.
             Mission: "We sell for less, satisfaction guaranteed."
             Net sales in fiscal 2001increased almost 16 percent to more than $191 billion, representing a growth in revenue of more than $26 billion. In addition, net income reached $2 billion for the fourth quarter and almost $6.3 billion for the year, making it our first "two-billion-dollar-income quarter" and our first "six-billion-dollar-income year." These strides where accomplished by the several divisions of the corporation making vast improvements in their customer services.
             The Sam's Club Division had exceptional membership renewals fueled by the slowing economy. There was a greater amount of consumers that where attempting to live on a tighter budge. Although most retailer where hurt by this trend, Sam's Club seemed to thrive on it. In addition, Sam's Club upgraded their f...