Wal-Mart Opens First Store In China?s Capital
by July 21, 2003 12:00 am 77 views
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. opened its first store in Beijing, China, on July 11, marking the start of its expansion in one of China’s most lucrative but competitive cities.
Opening a Sam’s Club store in a western suburb 40 minutes from downtown Beijing is a gamble on several fronts. The store, Wal-Mart’s 28th in China, is a two-story emporium with a 1,300-space parking lot abutting a large highway. In a market unaccustomed to such high fees, it will cost members $18 a year to shop there.
Wal-Mart plans to open seven more stores around the country by the end of the year, bringing its total to 35. Unlike in its home market, Wal-Mart’s first Beijing store will target wealthier consumers, primarily those with higher education and income, many with their own cars and homes. A second Beijing store, scheduled to open at the end of 2004 or early 2005, will be a Wal-Mart Supercenter, which will cater to a broader market.