Merchant of Doom
Is Wal-Mart the main street merchant of doom or the bitter rivalry of smaller business owners? In 1962, when Sam Walton opened his first Wal-Mart store in Rogers, Arkansas, he was convinced that consumers would enjoy a discount store that offered a wide selection of merchandise, with everyday low prices, and personal, friendly service. Sam Walton, a leader with an innovative vision, led Wal-Mart forward for thirty years creating the global powerhouse that it is today, in the retail industry. Many people claim that Wal-Mart practices "bully-like" business strategies when it moves in to town and eventually runs most of the smaller retail businesses out of business. However, in today's society, America is the land of the free and people can choose to establish free enterprise businesses that may or may not conflict with other businesses. During the early years of Wal-Mart's business growth plan; it began expanding into smaller rural communities where the people were tired of dealing with the local price-fixing merchants. The local "mom and pop" and main street stores could not compete with the low prices that Wal-Mart offered to its consumers, therefore Wal-Mart's expansion forced many smaller companies to close the
Business owners formed alliances amongst themselves, in certain towns throughout the United States, to keep Wal-Mart out of their communities at all costs. Wal-Mart attempted to led the way in supporting American-based manufacturing with its Buy American plan. Wal-Mart is the bitter rivalry of smaller business owners. Wal-Mart believes that it is their responsibility to help improve the environment. However, Wal-Mart's competitors could not meet the challenge and still offer their consumers the best deal. Wal-Mart's vision is to use its tremendous buying power to implement programs that are committed to protecting the environment. The much cheaper costs of foreign labor allow the companies to reduce their overhead costs, therefore allowing them to stay somewhat competitive with their product pricing. This is the cause of many business owners opposing Wal-Mart building and development permits in their communities, while others have joined forces in protesting against Wal-Mart based on social and environmental concerns. Mostly from the efforts of local merchants and business owners not wanting to compete with Wal-Mart's low prices and knowing that the downtown stores will never again be the sole providers of consumer goods. No other retail industry store can compete with Wal-Mart guaranteed everyday low prices. Wal-Mart has also deployed other decisive steps to improve the environment by making community-recycling bins available and other action plans include "Adopt-a-Highway" and "Adopt-a-Beach" programs. This also gives Wal-Mart the power that most small business owners could only dream of - purchasing power. Without the ability to outsource to foreign countries in order to save money on wages, many of Wal-Mart's competitors could not afford to provide the same low prices as Wal-Mart. With the amount of goods that Wal-Mart purchases from its wholesalers, it can ensure that the wholesalers provide them the lowest prices possible, which enables Wal-Mart to sell the same products to consumers, as its competitors, but at a lower price. Convinced it can make the world a cleaner and better place, Wal-Mart formed alliances with its manufacturers and consumers.
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