• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Jim Harris

  • About & Books ▼
    • Blindsided
    • The Learning Paradox
    • The 100 Best Companies to Work for in Canada
  • Speaking & Consulting ▼
    • Disruptive Innovation Speaker
    • Digital Transformation Speaker
    • Jim Harris – Virtual Keynote Speaker
    • Blockchain Speaker
    • Vuca Speaker
    • Business Speaker
    • Leadership Speaking
    • Disruptive Innovation Info
  • Videos & Media ▼
    • Blog
    • Articles
    • Technology
    • News
    • Testimonials
  • Contact Jim

Wal-Mart

Pre-empting the energy shockwave

Twitter
LinkedIn
Youtube

March 26, 2012 By Jim Harris

The inevitable long-term rise of energy prices poses a serious risk to corporate profitability. A Deloitte study, released at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2009, showed that even modest 3.5 per cent year-over-year increases in energy and resource input costs could wipe out the profitability of a vast number of North American firms. To put 3.5 per cent increases into perspective: The price of oil was $10 a barrel in 1999 and ran up to $147 in 2008 – that represented a 40% annual compounded increase. Jeff Rubin, the former chief economist of CIBC World Markets, predicts oil will hit $225 a barrel in 2012. Heightened tensions with Iran, the fourth largest oil producing country worldwide, could be the catalyst for the run up in oil prices. A risk for Canadian manufacturers is that the Canadian dollar has become a petro dollar. When the price of oil rose to $147 a barrel, the Canadian dollar hit its highest point in decades against the U.S. dollar. And that in turn hit Canadian exporters hard. How can exporters mitigate the risk of a high Canadian dollar? One way is by becoming more energy efficient, lowering the cost of production. Another, of course, is through hedging against a rising Canadian dollar through currency swaps. Energy efficiency is a powerful profit driver and risk mitigation strategy. Walmart is spending $500 million a year on fuel and energy efficiency projects with paybacks of four years or less. During the recession, the company’s … [Read more...] about Pre-empting the energy shockwave

Filed Under: Authored Articles, News Tagged With: energy costs, energy efficiency, fuel efficiency, risk management, sears canada, sustainability, Wal-Mart

Getting employees involved is key to sustainability

Twitter
LinkedIn
Youtube

December 11, 2009 By Jim Harris

So far, I have focused on why companies should go green; the compelling economic and marketing forces driving organizations to adopt sustainability initiatives. This is one strategy on how to go green. Read more: http://bit.ly/6Fhs8w … [Read more...] about Getting employees involved is key to sustainability

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Adam Werbach, Lee Scott, PSP, sustainability, Wal-Mart

Retail Giant finds its Green Religion

Twitter
LinkedIn
Youtube

October 19, 2009 By Jim Harris

Wal-Mart launched its sustainability initiatives in 2005. I attended a quarterly sustainability meeting led by then-CEO Lee Scott in Bentonville, Ark., at the company's headquarters. Read more: http://bit.ly/8fO19U … [Read more...] about Retail Giant finds its Green Religion

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: environment, going green, sustainability, Wal-Mart

Footer

Jim Harris
Focusing on disruptive innovation, digital transformation, strategic planning with executive teams and boards & leadership.


#1 International Bestselling Author, Management Consultant, Keynote Speaker and Strategic Planning Facilitator.

Copyright © 2021 · Terms and Conditions · Privacy Policy · Log in