 Supplier convergence in the retail industry is often described as the creation and growth of, literally, "one-stop shopping" (Slywotzky et al.1999), epitomized by retail giants such as Wal-Mart, whose outlets offer a wide range of products in an attempt to make competing specialty stores obsolete.Essentially, each section in large department stores, such as hardware, electronics, and clothing, consequently aims to replace competing businesses specializing in just one of those areas.