Why don't companies just copy walmarts formula for success here and abroad?

Question

If Walmart is so mammoth with all it's succes and everything. Then why on earth don't other companies follow suit and do the same thing cut costs, sell things at low prices? Why can't someone copycat that success for their own company that can rival Walmarts?

Answer 1

Some try and may have some success but its not exactly like you can open a WalMart copy cat across the street from an actual WalMart - you'll get killed.  First off you don't have the systems and buying power of a WalMart and you also don't have the reputation of WalMart.  Put another way, why not copy Coke or McDonalds, or any successful business - its just not that easy.

Answer 2

WalMart spent 30 years to get its distribution system to be as efficient as possible, and once it got big, it started using that bigness to negotiate better deals with suppliers than any startup could dream of getting.