February 9, 2005

Wal-Marts Aplenty: Too Many Too Close?

Assistant Professor of Business Administration Ursula Sullivan was interviewed for WICD News at 6 in early February when retail giant Wal-Mart announced it was building a super-center in Rantoul, replacing its current facility in the northern Champaign county town.

Savoy has a super-center on South Neil Street. A Wal-Mart super-center is being built further north of the current, regularly sized store on North Prospect in Champaign. A Wal-Mart has been proposed for Urbana.

"Wal-Mart has a tradition of being in rural America," said Sullivan in the interview, noting that consumers like to shop close to their homes rather than traveling longer distances. Those consumer preferences impact Wal-Mart's expansion strategy.

Sullivan’s primary teaching responsibilities are in the industrial distribution management program in the College of Business. She teaches purchasing and supply management and b2b sales. Sullivan's research focuses on managing marketing channels, distribution alliances, and channel strategy. She completed her PhD in marketing at Northwestern University and holds a BBA in international business from the University of Texas at Austin and an MS in marketing from Northwestern University.