Updated February 18, 2012
What are the mission statements of some of the largest companies in the world? Most of the largest companies in the U.S. retail industry have a mission statement which helps to guide and lead their entire employee organization toward an overarching business goal. The largest non-retail corporations have mission statements as well, and comparing the retail and non-retail mission statements often reveals the leadership differences which create success in different industries.
What follows is a complete list of mission statements for retail companies like Wal-Mart, Ford, Disney and Starbucks, along with the mission statements for non-retail companies like Bank of America and Wells Fargo. This list is arranged alphabetically, according to the company name. Click the links for each complete mission statement, as well as history, founders facts, and headquarters information for each company.
American Eagle
The leaders of American Eagle create excellence by pointing employees at all levels at the satisfaction of a job well done with its mission statement.
Click here for the complete American Eagle Mission Statement >>
Apple
It might be expected that one of the most innovative companies in history would also have one of the most innovative mission statements in history. Not so with Apple, Inc., a company whose mission statement is barely a mission statement at all.
Click here for the complete Apple Inc. Mission Statement >>
Amazon.com
The founder of Amazon.com has always centered his leadership decision around one primary thing, which is the unwavering mission of the world's larges Internet retailer.
Click here for the complete Amazon.com Mission Statement >>
Bank of America
Bank of America focuses the daily activities of its employees by clearly defining its target market in its missions statement, a strategy used by some retail companies as well.
Click here for the complete Bank of America Mission Statement >>
Barnes & Noble
It would be understandable to assume that Barnes & Noble's mission statement was to be the largest and only national brick and mortar bookseller in the U.S. But the mission statement of Barnes & Noble is less about profits and more about attitude.
Click here for the complete Barnes and Noble Mission Statement >>
Best Buy
Best Buy focuses on a formula that is simple and relies on its employees to make the formula work.
Click here for the complete Best Buy Mission Statement >>
Blockbuster
Can the downturn of Blockbuster be found in the redundancy of its mission statement?
Click here for the complete Blockbuster Mission Statement >>
Bon-Ton
Since it began, Bon-Ton has valued attention to detail with its customers, its merchandise, and the match between the two, and this continues to be Bon-Ton's mission more than 200 years later.
Click here for the complete Bon-Ton Mission Statement >>
Borders Books The Borders Books chain had a vision and values, but no distinct mission statement, which is one of the things that may have contributed to its demise.
Click here for the complete Borders Books mission statement >>
BP
It may be surprising to find out that BP's mission statement includes a commitment to do no harm or damage to people or to the environment.
Click here for the complete BP Mission Statement >>
The Buckle
The mission statement of The Buckle focuses every employee everywhere on the customer shopping experience.
Click here for the complete Buckle Mission Statement >>
Circuit City
Did Circuit City's lost vision and missed mission lead to its bankruptcy and liquidation?
Click here for the complete Circuit City Mission Statement >>
Costco Wholesale
The leaders at Costco believe that only ethical business can create profits, and its mission statement revolves around that.
Click here for the complete Costco Mission Statement >>
CVS
The CVS vision is larger and loftier than most retail organizations, and its mission statement and values seek to provide a structure for employees to be part of that vision every day.
Click here for the complete CVS Mission Statement >>
Dollar General
The mission statement of deep discount retailer Dollar General focuses on more than just money and savings.
Click here for the complete Dollar General Mission Statement >>
Duckwall-ALCO
Rather than moving the company into the future, the mission statement of Duckwall-ALCO keeps their shopping experience rooted in the goals and values of bygone days.
Click here for the complete Duckwall-ALCO Mission Statement >>
> More Mission Statements from the Retail and Non-Retail Companies >>
