White Paper. Post #2. Swot Analysis.

So, the first step to understanding how a company is doing is to break it down into 4 main components:

1. Strength.
This where you concentrate on positive internal aspects of the company.
Rite-Aid, as a local store, has something very impressive to show off. First of all, Chili is usually thought of as a family/retired community, but there are also a high school down the road and a college on the other side, so there are a lot of kids who are desperate for some new things they don’t need, but have to have. Walgreens I work at doesn’t do as well on its make up supplies when Rite-Aid seems to be getting newer make up stands more often. This is their main point, in my opinion (but I am also crazy about make up, so..).  Also, Rite-Aid seems to be a bigger store which means they are getting more stuff in which can lead to more consumers coming in and emptying their wallets. Also, Rite-Aid has a bigger need for more employees which can lead to great customer service if prioritized as it should.

2. Weaknesses.
Those are negative internal aspects to a company that might be taken into consideration and could be turned around and made into strength.

• Having a lot of employees puts Rite-Aid main management in a tough position of controlling its workers and their communication with the public.
• Rite-Aid building looks older and forgotten, and even though they recently updated the looks of the inside, it's not enough because customers like to see a pretty building welcoming them and might not walk into a building that looks cheap and old from the outside.
• Walgreens across the street has a mandatory “Welcome to Walgreens” that is to be said to everyone who walks into the door as well as “Have a nice day, be well” that is said when a customer leaves. Rite-Aid seems not to have any of the above, so most of the time customers do not feel welcome or even recognized.

3. Opportunities.
Those are external aspects that could boost the store up on the market by using their competitors mistakes to benefit and earn profit.

• Rite-Aid could use Walgreens' habit of getting involved in the community’s lives and have their ads on a local radio (which local Walgreens does not do, but Walgreens in the nation does by sponsoring Kiss FM that younger population listens to). By doing that, Rite-Aid will get their name to be recognized within the community.
• Since Rite-Aid is a pharmacy oriented business, they should have bigger and bolder signs on their doors about what services they offer and at what price. They should use a technique of when they compare their prices to their competitors, and it is not necessary to use Walgreens’ name since the two are right next to each other.
• Rite-Aid should aim for young families and young adults as their customer base because Walgreens seems to concentrate on elderly people or those with 2 or more kids. This will bring Rite-Aid to a new level with a new target audience that Walgreens currently doesn’t have.

4. Threats.
Those are external aspects that could potentially harm company’s business if not noticed on time.

• Rite-Aid seems to be forgotten unless people are already on the plaza Rite-Aid is located on.
• People rather not go to Rite-Aid because of its service and customer appreciation that are missing.
• Walgreens, as a competitor, offers more of a friendly and well “light-up” atmosphere, so people tend to be more willing to spend money there.