This document provides a summary of the book "The Wal-Mart Effect" by Charles Fishman. It discusses how Walmart has transformed retail and the American economy. Walmart pioneered the "supercenter" concept in the 1980s and 1990s and is now the world's largest company with nearly $400 billion in annual sales. However, the company also faces significant criticism over its labor practices and impact on suppliers and smaller businesses. While Walmart has changed shopping and consumerism in the US, the book argues it could use its influence to improve conditions for workers overseas as well.
Translation of a June 2012 article by Jorge Majfud (http://www.majfud.org) which ran on Alai-AmLatina (https://www.alainet.org/es/active/55384). Given that a multinational like McDonald's has its workers use "food stamps" (strictly speaking, Supplemental Nutritional Asssistance Program) as reported in such.... radical outlets like The Atlantic & Business Insider (https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/10/instead-living-wage-mcdonalds-tells-workers-sign-food-stamps/309625/ & https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-mcresources-hotline-tells-nancy-salgado-to-get-on-food-stamps-2013-10), I'd say Majfud's piece is close to the mark. If not right on target.
This translation is somewhat more "liberal"/"flexible" although I tried to stay as close as possible to the source text. Some phrases that I used such as "Big Business" and "pretty penny" may be more appropriate for American English audiences, which is just as well given the McDonald's-food stamp incident. I originally translated the title as "Unemployment's double game" but I decided to give this upload another title: "The unemployment shell game". "The unemployment scam" works just as well. The broader point still stands. All errors are mine.
eWorld Cluster Development & the Globalized Supply Base (2010)Jon Hansen
eWorld Masterclass Presentation
September 28th, 2010
London, UK
One of the greatest challenges faced by both the private and public sectors in terms of driving best value decision-making, is supply base erosion. Almost irreparably damaged through ill-advised initiatives such as supply base rationalisation and low cost country sourcing (to name but two), many supplier development, engagement and utilisation programs are little more than exercises in futility. This session aims to dramatically increase your chances of success, by explaining the new dynamics of the global economy and how you can drive sustainable value through your supplier relationships.
Speaker: Jon Hansen, Procurement Insights
Translation of a June 2012 article by Jorge Majfud (http://www.majfud.org) which ran on Alai-AmLatina (https://www.alainet.org/es/active/55384). Given that a multinational like McDonald's has its workers use "food stamps" (strictly speaking, Supplemental Nutritional Asssistance Program) as reported in such.... radical outlets like The Atlantic & Business Insider (https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/10/instead-living-wage-mcdonalds-tells-workers-sign-food-stamps/309625/ & https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-mcresources-hotline-tells-nancy-salgado-to-get-on-food-stamps-2013-10), I'd say Majfud's piece is close to the mark. If not right on target.
This translation is somewhat more "liberal"/"flexible" although I tried to stay as close as possible to the source text. Some phrases that I used such as "Big Business" and "pretty penny" may be more appropriate for American English audiences, which is just as well given the McDonald's-food stamp incident. I originally translated the title as "Unemployment's double game" but I decided to give this upload another title: "The unemployment shell game". "The unemployment scam" works just as well. The broader point still stands. All errors are mine.
eWorld Cluster Development & the Globalized Supply Base (2010)Jon Hansen
eWorld Masterclass Presentation
September 28th, 2010
London, UK
One of the greatest challenges faced by both the private and public sectors in terms of driving best value decision-making, is supply base erosion. Almost irreparably damaged through ill-advised initiatives such as supply base rationalisation and low cost country sourcing (to name but two), many supplier development, engagement and utilisation programs are little more than exercises in futility. This session aims to dramatically increase your chances of success, by explaining the new dynamics of the global economy and how you can drive sustainable value through your supplier relationships.
Speaker: Jon Hansen, Procurement Insights
Group Case 1Team MembersEtimad Uddin Khan Mohammed (98326)Ab.docxwhittemorelucilla
Group Case 1
Team Members
Etimad Uddin Khan Mohammed (98326)
Abdul Moin Khan Lnu (199229)
Bose Babu Vanarasa (180721)
Shashank Vinala (188623)
· Give a brief history of Wal-Mart ?
Ans:-
A Brief History of Walmart
In the late 1940s, when Sam Walton was franchising a Ben Franklin’s variety store in Newport, Ark., he had a simple but momentous idea. Like any retailer, Walton was always looking for deals from suppliers. Typically, though, a retailer who managed to get a bargain from a wholesaler would leave his store prices unchanged and pocket the extra money. Walton, by contrast, realized he could do better by passing on the savings to his customers and earning his profits through volume. This insight would form a cornerstone of Walton’s business strategy when he launched Wal-Mart in 1962.
The quest for low prices came naturally to Walton: He was freakishly cheap. Although he was ranked as the richest man in the United States by the 1980s, he continued, it is said, to have his hair cut by the local barber, a $5 expense that he never supplemented with a tip. (Perhaps he wasn’t satisfied.) Cost-cutting was, as one might also expect, an obsession in the Wal-Mart culture, and Walton was almost as chintzy with his executives as he was with his cashiers. On business trips, everyone, including the boss, flew coach, and hotel rooms were always shared. Even a cup of coffee at the office required a 10-cent contribution to the tin.
But coffee taxes only went so far. Walton understood that a major requirement for keeping costs down was controlling the payroll. As he would write in his 1992 autobiography, Made in America, “No matter how you slice it in the retail business, payroll is one of the most important parts of overhead, and overhead is one of the most crucial things you have to fight to maintain your profit margin.” Not only did Walton prefer to hire as few people as possible, but he also dreaded paying them more than he had to. Unions were particularly feared, and Walton did everything he could to fight them, almost always successfully.
If such a regimen seems stifling, Walton’s employees nevertheless accepted it. In part, it was because Walton framed his cheapness as a crusade on behalf of the lowly consumer and as a quest for a better life for all Americans. It was also because he lived an outwardly modest life, driving an old truck with his hunting dogs in the back. Mostly, it was because he had charisma. Even when Wal-Mart grew outsized, Walton made a point of keeping in touch with his employees on the ground or, as he termed them, his “associates.” This would often involve flying from store to store — Walton had a pilot’s license — for impromptu visits.
But Walton’s ability to keep his staff happy also relied on a sense of when to let penny-pinching take a backseat to other priorities. In 1985, amid anxiety about trade deficits and the loss of American manufacturing jobs, Walton launched a “Made in America” campaign that committe ...
Group Case 1Team MembersEtimad Uddin Khan Mohammed (98326)Ab.docxwhittemorelucilla
Group Case 1
Team Members
Etimad Uddin Khan Mohammed (98326)
Abdul Moin Khan Lnu (199229)
Bose Babu Vanarasa (180721)
Shashank Vinala (188623)
· Give a brief history of Wal-Mart ?
Ans:-
A Brief History of Walmart
In the late 1940s, when Sam Walton was franchising a Ben Franklin’s variety store in Newport, Ark., he had a simple but momentous idea. Like any retailer, Walton was always looking for deals from suppliers. Typically, though, a retailer who managed to get a bargain from a wholesaler would leave his store prices unchanged and pocket the extra money. Walton, by contrast, realized he could do better by passing on the savings to his customers and earning his profits through volume. This insight would form a cornerstone of Walton’s business strategy when he launched Wal-Mart in 1962.
The quest for low prices came naturally to Walton: He was freakishly cheap. Although he was ranked as the richest man in the United States by the 1980s, he continued, it is said, to have his hair cut by the local barber, a $5 expense that he never supplemented with a tip. (Perhaps he wasn’t satisfied.) Cost-cutting was, as one might also expect, an obsession in the Wal-Mart culture, and Walton was almost as chintzy with his executives as he was with his cashiers. On business trips, everyone, including the boss, flew coach, and hotel rooms were always shared. Even a cup of coffee at the office required a 10-cent contribution to the tin.
But coffee taxes only went so far. Walton understood that a major requirement for keeping costs down was controlling the payroll. As he would write in his 1992 autobiography, Made in America, “No matter how you slice it in the retail business, payroll is one of the most important parts of overhead, and overhead is one of the most crucial things you have to fight to maintain your profit margin.” Not only did Walton prefer to hire as few people as possible, but he also dreaded paying them more than he had to. Unions were particularly feared, and Walton did everything he could to fight them, almost always successfully.
If such a regimen seems stifling, Walton’s employees nevertheless accepted it. In part, it was because Walton framed his cheapness as a crusade on behalf of the lowly consumer and as a quest for a better life for all Americans. It was also because he lived an outwardly modest life, driving an old truck with his hunting dogs in the back. Mostly, it was because he had charisma. Even when Wal-Mart grew outsized, Walton made a point of keeping in touch with his employees on the ground or, as he termed them, his “associates.” This would often involve flying from store to store — Walton had a pilot’s license — for impromptu visits.
But Walton’s ability to keep his staff happy also relied on a sense of when to let penny-pinching take a backseat to other priorities. In 1985, amid anxiety about trade deficits and the loss of American manufacturing jobs, Walton launched a “Made in America” campaign that committe ...
In November of 2013 Doug McMillon had just been named the CEO of Walma.docxsandraa52
In November of 2013 Doug McMillon had just been named the CEO of Walmart Stores, Inc. effective February 1, 2014. McMillon had unique preparation for the job. He had held senior executive positions in Walmart’s domestic operations and had presided over both the company's international operations and Sam's Club, Walmart’s discount club chain. McMillon would likely need to draw upon his diverse experiences to successfully lead the company in the face of mounting challenges.
As recently as 1979, Walmart had been a regional retailer little known outside the South with 229 discount stores compared to the industry leader Kmart’s 1,891 stores. In less than 25 years, Walmart had risen to become the largest U.S. corporation in sales. With more than $469 billion in revenues, Walmart had far eclipsed not only Kmart but all retail competitors. Yet another measure of Walmart’s dominance was that it accounted for approximately 45 percent of general merchandise, 30 percent of health and beauty aids, and 29 percent of non-food grocery sales in the United States.
Despite its remarkable record of success, though, Walmart was not without challenges. Many observers believed that the company would find it increasingly difficult to sustain its remarkable record of growth. Walmart faced a maturing market in its core business that would not likely see the growth rates it had previously enjoyed. Growth in same-store sales had declined in multiple quarters in the previous year. Many investors believed that Walmart had reached a point of saturation with its stores. Supercenters had provided significant growth for Walmart, but it was not clear how long they could deliver the company's customary growth rates. The company added new stores at a prodigious rate, but the new stores often cannibalized sales from nearby Walmart stores. Walmart faced problems in other business areas as w& The Walmart-owned Sam's Club warehouse stores had not measured up to Costco, their leading competitor International operations were another challenge for Walmart Faced with slowing growth domestically, it had tried to capitalize on international opportunities. These international efforts, however, had met with only success at best.
Walmart was also a target for critics who attacked its record on social issues. Walmart had been blamed for pushing production from the United States to low-wage overseas producers. Some claimed that Walmart had almost single-handedly depressed wage growth m the US. Economy. For many, Walmart had become a symbol of capitalism that had run out of control. Indeed, Time magazine asked, "Will Walmart Steal Christmas?" Much of the criticism directed at Walmart did not go beyond angry rhetoric. In many cases, however, Walmart had faced stiff community opposition to building new stores.
With such challenges, some investment analysts questioned whether it was even possible for a company lilac Wal-Mart, with more than $469 billion in sales, to sustain its accustomed .
Running Head: MILESTONE ONE 1
3-2 Final Project Milestone One: Background Paper Reginald Williams Southern New Hampshire University
MILESTONE ONE 2
3-2 Final Project Milestone One: Background Paper
Hello, I’m doing my background paper on the globalization of Wal mart and how they deal with low wages and sometimes very little to no benefits. Some stores are different than others. Wal mart had a very bad reputation when it came to their employees and management. With the corporation founded in 1962 Sam Walton became the largest employer in us history.( Jansson, Ph.D.,2018). The company was well known for low prices, but by the early 90s it began to be known for paying their employees low wages. The chain later profited about 315billion dollars in the 90s.
The first Wal-Mart was created in Rodgers, Arkansas in 1962 as well.
Background
The newly Wal-Mart Stores were killing the businesses of the then existing Ma and Pop businesses and smaller discount marts across the country. This store was destroying the small businessman and woman. Sam Walton didn’t care about small businesses and
The new Wal-Mart Stores were taking away from the profits of the existing mom and pop businesses or small community businesses across the country.
MILESTONE ONE 3
Effectiveness
The effectiveness of the Wal-Mart stores hurt the shopping industry by not helping those people who were struggling to make ends meet and those within the corporation (the United Food and Com- mercial Workers) and Wake-up Wal-Mart and its subseries make something up to help their workers and those all over the country.
About how they are treated within the workplace and by the customers themselves. Also employees and the co-owners of Wal-Mart had a big falling out.
MILESTONE ONE 4
Diverse Clientele
The clientele that Wal-Mart is dealing with would be of Mexican decent and those who are African American descent. These are the main shoppers within the stores. Diversity within the stores are very important to Sam Wa ...
In November of 2013 Doug McMillon had just been named the CEO MalikPinckney86
In November of 2013 Doug McMillon had just been named the CEO of Walmart Stores, Inc.
effective February 1, 2014. McMillon had unique preparation for the job. He had held senior
executive positions in Walmart’s domestic operations and had presided over both the
company's international operations and Sam's Club, Walmart’s discount club chain.
McMillon would likely need to draw upon his diverse experiences to successfully lead the
company in the face of mounting challenges.
As recently as 1979, Walmart had been a regional retailer little known outside the South
with 229 discount stores compared to the industry leader Kmart’s 1,891 stores. In less than
25 years, Walmart had risen to become the largest U.S. corporation in sales. With more than
$469 billion in revenues, Walmart had far eclipsed not only Kmart but all retail competitors.
Yet another measure of Walmart’s dominance was that it accounted for approximately 45
percent of general merchandise, 30 percent of health and beauty aids, and 29 percent of
non-food grocery sales in the United States.
Despite its remarkable record of success, though, Walmart was not without challenges.
Many observers believed that the company would find it increasingly difficult to sustain its
remarkable record of growth. Walmart faced a maturing market in its core business that
would not likely see the growth rates it had previously enjoyed. Growth in same-store sales
had declined in multiple quarters in the previous year. Many investors believed that
Walmart had reached a point of saturation with its stores. Supercenters had provided
significant growth for Walmart, but it was not clear how long they could deliver the
company's customary growth rates. The company added new stores at a prodigious rate, but
the new stores often cannibalized sales from nearby Walmart stores. Walmart faced
problems in other business areas as w& The Walmart-owned Sam's Club warehouse stores
had not measured up to Costco, their leading competitor International operations were
another challenge for Walmart Faced with slowing growth domestically, it had tried to
capitalize on international opportunities. These international efforts, however, had met with
only success at best.
Walmart was also a target for critics who attacked its record on social issues. Walmart had
been blamed for pushing production from the United States to low-wage overseas
producers. Some claimed that Walmart had almost single-handedly depressed wage growth
m the US. Economy. For many, Walmart had become a symbol of capitalism that had run
out of control. Indeed, Time magazine asked, "Will Walmart Steal Christmas?" Much of the
criticism directed at Walmart did not go beyond angry rhetoric. In many cases, however,
Walmart had faced stiff community opposition to building new stores.
With such challenges, some investment analysts questioned whether it was even possible for
a company lilac Wal-Mart, with more than $469 billion in sa ...
Improving profitability for small businessBen Wann
In this comprehensive presentation, we will explore strategies and practical tips for enhancing profitability in small businesses. Tailored to meet the unique challenges faced by small enterprises, this session covers various aspects that directly impact the bottom line. Attendees will learn how to optimize operational efficiency, manage expenses, and increase revenue through innovative marketing and customer engagement techniques.
Memorandum Of Association Constitution of Company.pptseri bangash
www.seribangash.com
A Memorandum of Association (MOA) is a legal document that outlines the fundamental principles and objectives upon which a company operates. It serves as the company's charter or constitution and defines the scope of its activities. Here's a detailed note on the MOA:
Contents of Memorandum of Association:
Name Clause: This clause states the name of the company, which should end with words like "Limited" or "Ltd." for a public limited company and "Private Limited" or "Pvt. Ltd." for a private limited company.
https://seribangash.com/article-of-association-is-legal-doc-of-company/
Registered Office Clause: It specifies the location where the company's registered office is situated. This office is where all official communications and notices are sent.
Objective Clause: This clause delineates the main objectives for which the company is formed. It's important to define these objectives clearly, as the company cannot undertake activities beyond those mentioned in this clause.
www.seribangash.com
Liability Clause: It outlines the extent of liability of the company's members. In the case of companies limited by shares, the liability of members is limited to the amount unpaid on their shares. For companies limited by guarantee, members' liability is limited to the amount they undertake to contribute if the company is wound up.
https://seribangash.com/promotors-is-person-conceived-formation-company/
Capital Clause: This clause specifies the authorized capital of the company, i.e., the maximum amount of share capital the company is authorized to issue. It also mentions the division of this capital into shares and their respective nominal value.
Association Clause: It simply states that the subscribers wish to form a company and agree to become members of it, in accordance with the terms of the MOA.
Importance of Memorandum of Association:
Legal Requirement: The MOA is a legal requirement for the formation of a company. It must be filed with the Registrar of Companies during the incorporation process.
Constitutional Document: It serves as the company's constitutional document, defining its scope, powers, and limitations.
Protection of Members: It protects the interests of the company's members by clearly defining the objectives and limiting their liability.
External Communication: It provides clarity to external parties, such as investors, creditors, and regulatory authorities, regarding the company's objectives and powers.
https://seribangash.com/difference-public-and-private-company-law/
Binding Authority: The company and its members are bound by the provisions of the MOA. Any action taken beyond its scope may be considered ultra vires (beyond the powers) of the company and therefore void.
Amendment of MOA:
While the MOA lays down the company's fundamental principles, it is not entirely immutable. It can be amended, but only under specific circumstances and in compliance with legal procedures. Amendments typically require shareholder
What is the TDS Return Filing Due Date for FY 2024-25.pdfseoforlegalpillers
It is crucial for the taxpayers to understand about the TDS Return Filing Due Date, so that they can fulfill your TDS obligations efficiently. Taxpayers can avoid penalties by sticking to the deadlines and by accurate filing of TDS. Timely filing of TDS will make sure about the availability of tax credits. You can also seek the professional guidance of experts like Legal Pillers for timely filing of the TDS Return.
Business Valuation Principles for EntrepreneursBen Wann
This insightful presentation is designed to equip entrepreneurs with the essential knowledge and tools needed to accurately value their businesses. Understanding business valuation is crucial for making informed decisions, whether you're seeking investment, planning to sell, or simply want to gauge your company's worth.
Implicitly or explicitly all competing businesses employ a strategy to select a mix
of marketing resources. Formulating such competitive strategies fundamentally
involves recognizing relationships between elements of the marketing mix (e.g.,
price and product quality), as well as assessing competitive and market conditions
(i.e., industry structure in the language of economics).
Affordable Stationery Printing Services in Jaipur | Navpack n PrintNavpack & Print
Looking for professional printing services in Jaipur? Navpack n Print offers high-quality and affordable stationery printing for all your business needs. Stand out with custom stationery designs and fast turnaround times. Contact us today for a quote!
Enterprise Excellence is Inclusive Excellence.pdfKaiNexus
Enterprise excellence and inclusive excellence are closely linked, and real-world challenges have shown that both are essential to the success of any organization. To achieve enterprise excellence, organizations must focus on improving their operations and processes while creating an inclusive environment that engages everyone. In this interactive session, the facilitator will highlight commonly established business practices and how they limit our ability to engage everyone every day. More importantly, though, participants will likely gain increased awareness of what we can do differently to maximize enterprise excellence through deliberate inclusion.
What is Enterprise Excellence?
Enterprise Excellence is a holistic approach that's aimed at achieving world-class performance across all aspects of the organization.
What might I learn?
A way to engage all in creating Inclusive Excellence. Lessons from the US military and their parallels to the story of Harry Potter. How belt systems and CI teams can destroy inclusive practices. How leadership language invites people to the party. There are three things leaders can do to engage everyone every day: maximizing psychological safety to create environments where folks learn, contribute, and challenge the status quo.
Who might benefit? Anyone and everyone leading folks from the shop floor to top floor.
Dr. William Harvey is a seasoned Operations Leader with extensive experience in chemical processing, manufacturing, and operations management. At Michelman, he currently oversees multiple sites, leading teams in strategic planning and coaching/practicing continuous improvement. William is set to start his eighth year of teaching at the University of Cincinnati where he teaches marketing, finance, and management. William holds various certifications in change management, quality, leadership, operational excellence, team building, and DiSC, among others.
Kseniya Leshchenko: Shared development support service model as the way to ma...Lviv Startup Club
Kseniya Leshchenko: Shared development support service model as the way to make small projects with small budgets profitable for the company (UA)
Kyiv PMDay 2024 Summer
Website – www.pmday.org
Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/startuplviv
FB – https://www.facebook.com/pmdayconference
The world of search engine optimization (SEO) is buzzing with discussions after Google confirmed that around 2,500 leaked internal documents related to its Search feature are indeed authentic. The revelation has sparked significant concerns within the SEO community. The leaked documents were initially reported by SEO experts Rand Fishkin and Mike King, igniting widespread analysis and discourse. For More Info:- https://news.arihantwebtech.com/search-disrupted-googles-leaked-documents-rock-the-seo-world/
Putting the SPARK into Virtual Training.pptxCynthia Clay
This 60-minute webinar, sponsored by Adobe, was delivered for the Training Mag Network. It explored the five elements of SPARK: Storytelling, Purpose, Action, Relationships, and Kudos. Knowing how to tell a well-structured story is key to building long-term memory. Stating a clear purpose that doesn't take away from the discovery learning process is critical. Ensuring that people move from theory to practical application is imperative. Creating strong social learning is the key to commitment and engagement. Validating and affirming participants' comments is the way to create a positive learning environment.
Attending a job Interview for B1 and B2 Englsih learnersErika906060
It is a sample of an interview for a business english class for pre-intermediate and intermediate english students with emphasis on the speking ability.
Attending a job Interview for B1 and B2 Englsih learners
Walmart
1. A Wai-Marl Superctnter in Lebanon. Mo *Th« Wal-M*rt Ellecl* c..irr.,nci the company thai changed the way America ihopi
An unsparing look inside
the biggest of the big boxes
news. Its myriad labor pmbkms made headlines Few knowledgeable salespeople are left In retail
•gain last month when a California Jury ordered ing anymore, only cashiers.
'-• THE WAL-MART EFFECT: HOW the company to pay more than $170 million to Simply to feed turnover, Wai-Man must rcpUo
THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL thousands of workers who claimed they were de- 600,000 workers a year, the Economist magazim
nied lunch breaks; the company Is appealing. The reported — roughly the population of the dty o
COMPANY REALLY WORKS - company also was embana.wd this month when Baltimore, More Americans now vrort In store
AND HOW IT'S TRANSFORMING its Web nie prompted people shopping for Afri- than in factories, an epic shift that occurred qui
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY can-American films to purchase Planet of the etly a few yean ago, Fishman points out
Charles Fishman Apes and Wtlty Wonka and the Chocolate factory. But the company's might partly results from It
Penguin Pr*» / 304 p*jn /$2595 Chief Executive Officer H. Lee Scott Jr. acknowl- zeal to push responsibilities onto others, Flshmai
edged recently that he must spend Increasing uyv Suppliers are strongly discouraged troa
gota of time defending the company. Union- passing on cost increases, regardless of whet he
backcd campaigns such as WakeUpWalman.com they're driven by raw materials or envlronmen
BY A N D R E W RATHER and Wat-Mart Watch are textbook models of how lal-protectjon laws. Many contend that Wai-Mar
oouniwd labor will engage Its corporate foes In foists responsibility for health care coverage fo
the Internet age. its workers onto the public system — an argu
O
Ftshman's is neither a wholly two-fisted attack men! that recently moved the Maryland legisla
nor a fawning account. The author Illuminates ture to require Wai-Man into Increasing Its em
NE INDICATION OF HOW THOR the vut and complex Impact the company has ex- ptoyw health care.
oughly Wal-Mart has transformed erted economically and socially. As Fishman describes, Wai-Man's 'social con
retail Is (o read news coverage The 1980s are often described as the *Me Dec- tract* has frayed since the 1991 death of foundc.
from the early 1990s, when a ade,' but Wai-Man through the 1990s helped Sam Walton. The company has become a welte
Paris-based company introduced make acquisitiveness a central tenet of American of contradictions: II espouses patriotism and lam
It* Leedmark 'superstore* in life. Allcr saks of Harm underwear shot up at Uy values but placet extreme demands on it
Maryland. Wal-Mart a Tew years ago. for example. Hanes ex- managers, requiring inordinate houn away thin
•Skeptics uy the 'hybrid mar ecutives were initially twilled about where else families, and squeezes suppliers so unrelentingh
ket' has yet to prove it is anything men.' than a they might be losing sales as a result. They even- that jobs move overseas. Walton touted *Bir
lumbering 'diruwtore,' • said a story tn The Sun tually concluded that shoppers weren't buying American' in the 1980s, but the company helpe<
less of their product elsewhere: They were simply contribute to the hollowing out of that lentimen
300.00Cnquare-root store In Glen Bumlc. •Hy- stuffing their dressers at home with ever more as it began buying billions of dollars worth o
permarkets haw been popular in Western Eu- undergarments, driven by Wai-Man's persuasive Koods from China and other countries.
rope since the 19605, but the term has acquired pricing, Fishman writes. The author Implies that Wai-Man could anc
the reek of failure In U.S. retailing circles.' With Its unsophisticated Image, low-rent mar- should use Its power to do more good even as I
Although little more than a decade old. clips keting «nd bland and Jumbled stores, Wai-Man thrives, such as improving working conditions to
certainly makes a fun target for critics. The ani- the likes of Chilean salmon farmers and Bangfe
Ing depleting primitive man's aversion to having mated political cartoon site Jthlabcom offered a deshl garment wotters who supply Its labor an
a big-screci 'IV and underarm deodorant In the withering parody recently to the tune of "Oh Su- products so cheaply.
same shopping can. sanna." Walton Isn't widely vtewed as an industrial ge
Leedmark eventually did fold, but Wal-Mart, But the company's Impact is undeniable. Wai- nlus, hut he transformed shopping for the masse
which look over Leedniark'* Gen Bumle site, has Man changed the way American families shop. as much as Henry Ford did the automobile are
grown to unlmagtned proportions. Annual sales, their perceptions of what they need, and how Bill Gales the personal computer. The Wcl-Mor
which Ilrst surpassed 11 billion in 1979, now ap- manufacturers prepare goods, package them and Fffcct may seem breathless at times, but per
proach Ijoo billion. get them to market The chain altered the for- haps It's because the author cant help but mai
The Wal-Mart Effect, * new book by Charles tunes of mom-and-pop stores on Main Street, de- vel at the unlikely influence one dryfoods put
Fishman, is a fascinating dissection of the most throned the once-mighty enclosed suburban veyor In the Ozarks has exerted on the planet
controversial corporation In America today. shopping mall and the venerable department
Fishman Is a senior editor at Rut Company who stores, ajid paved the way for more fashionable
last year won a coveted Gerald Loeb Award for discount competitors such as Target Corp. and
business magazine wn ting. Kohl's Corp. It made 'low prices' king and ren- Andrtw Ralner is deputy bustneu rdilor o/ Th*
The world's largest retailer cant stay out of the dered "service* less vital In the service economy.