#8221; existing markets Relocate Remodel Invest heavily in high-tech store and distribution systems which drive service up and costs down Provide the products that consumers want and need and get them in and out of the store quickly Explore international opportunities Offer an online drugstore web site totally integrated with our retail storesIn contrast to the industry and the competition, Walgreens focuses on growth by opening new, freestanding locations with drive-through pharmacies. By the year 2010, Walgreen Company plans to have 6,000 stores open. With this and the addition of the new online market, Walgreen Company continues to successfully take advantage of industry opportunities.External Threat AnalysisA company can get wrapped up in the many opportunities that it may pursue and overlook the external threats bearing down upon them. This slight oversight may compromise a company’s profitability and market standing. Every company has its vulnerable components, but as long as these are known and guarded, a company’s future position is not compromised. Once these threats are analyzed, it is the management’s responsibility to build a strategic plan to remedy the situation.Although there are many examples of external threats that may occur to a company, Walgreen Company stands on pretty secure ground. The management, though, must always be on the lookout for the entry of new competitors, rising sales of substitute products, slower market growth, adverse government policies, growing competitive pressure, vulnerability to recession and business cycles, the growing bargaining power of customers or suppliers, changing buyer needs and taste, and finally, adverse demographic changes. Walgreen Company has experienced some, but not many of these threats mentioned above.On May 11, 2000, Walgreen announced that a lawsuit was going to be filed against the Arkansas Departme...
