How do you feel about Wal-Mart?
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| Wed, 11-26-2008 - 6:23pm |
I read this op/ed (it's tied in with the automotive industry issues) http://www.indystar.com/article/20081119/OPINION12/811190304/1301/ARCHIVE the other day and it got me thinking. I've always heard about the lousy way they treat their employees but...it's their prices that keep me going back. Since I've moved to the South it's been even worse. They have Super Wal-Marts here where there is a grocery store in the Wal-Mart.
Now, there was an article the other day in my local newspaper with the mayor asking people to do their Christmas shopping downtown and buy local to support our mom & pop stores. Now, I'd love to do that but I have three kids and you know where I'm going.
Part of me really doesn't like what Wal-Mart stands for but the other part of me feels like "why should I pay more when I know I can get it cheaper there?"
Any thoughts?

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What I have noticed in my area is that the stores that are successfully competing against Wal-Mart do so by offering products that Wal-Mart doesn't offer. Even the grocery stores, since we do have a Super Wal-Mart, carry brands that Super Wal-Mart doesn't carry. Also, our Super Wal-Mart doesn't put out a sales flier for the grocery so if you are shopping specials you won't know what they have until you get there. Our other groceries are doing pretty well judging by the number of cars in the parking lots.
I think for this area it helps that there wasn't much in the way of shopping choices before Wal-Mart came but in the years since we have grown and there are far more choices, but they are all chains - not much in the way of mom and pop stores.
My daughter and I were just talking about a new coffee shop that opened on our side of town recently. We have a Starbucks at the north end - which I love - a non-chain organic coffee shop near the public library - which my daughter loves, especially since it is on her way to work - and now a new non-chain coffee shop right across the street from the school where I work. I find it hard to believe that our area can support all three, but they each serve a unique niche and are spread far enough away from each other that they probably get some unique 'convenience' traffic that wouldn't choose to drive all the way to the other locations.
I guess my point is the secret seems to be unique niche, good location, and really knowing your market base. I hope all three of our coffee shops make it - Starbucks is my naught indulgence, the organic shop has a yummy coffee smoothie that really hits the spot on those hot days, and the coffee shop across from my workplace also has sandwiches and quiches and my coworkers and I like to stop in there for some 'bonding time' before coming back to school on PTA nights. Each is unique and each is a nice addition to our community.
Several years ago, I wondered why a neighboring city was fighting to keep out Walmart, since the prices were soooo low. Then, I realized that the local stores were closing left and right...Higher wage earners gone...the quality of the items that I purchased at Walmart were below standard. By the time I purchased it again, I had actually lost time and money by not buying it from a competitor.
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