...Title: WalMart Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience not to support WalMart. Central Idea: The super-giant retailer WalMart has a negative impact upon many aspects of society, both local and worldwide, and as a result the American people should not support WalMart. Audience: How many people shop at Walmart? Introduction "Always Low Prices" is the famous pledge of WalMart, the retail-giant that features 180,000-foot "Super-Centers that sell everything from tires to groceries to live goldfish. In reality though WalMart's pledge should be "Always Low Prices, Always Low Wages, Always Low Morals, AlwaysLow Ethics"! WalMartis a behemoth corporation that "hauls off a stunning $220 Billion a year from its customers, resulting in a net profit of over 7 billion dollars a year for the company (Hightower 1). The famous blue vests of "associates" and the smiling yellow Dot that promises those low prices are not only common symbols in the United States, but also in nine foreign countries around the world. The super-giant retailer WalMart has a negative impact on many aspects of society, both local and worldwide, and as a result the American people should not support WalMart. Let's begin by looking at the problem of WalMart being a negative force. Body A. When WalMart builds a store in a town, it decimates the economy of the town and forces small-businesses out of business. According to Paul Kurtz's article, "The Decline of small business," when WalMart, "invades...
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...In the beginning when Walmart was small and maturing business, they were an ideal company in the eyes of employees. But as the company grew into a worldwide empire, so did the number of ethical issues they faced. With promises of low prices to keep to its customers, they have made decisions which have impacted employees. People say Walmart has poor management, have poor wages for both local and outsourced workers. Many people would call these things uneithical, but Walmart claims otherwise. They claim they are helping people by creating jobs, which meet minimum wage standards, and they care about the ethics within their company. There is an abundance of arguments that call out Walmart as being unethical, but what people easily ignore are these lesser known ones that argue for Walmart’s ethical side. The most predominate unethical issue Walmart has received criticism over for countless years is their poor treatment of employees. The retailer is known for paying its store associates minimum wage. These low wages make it tough for an employee to support a family let alone themselves. Because of the low wages that Walmart pays its employees, many of them have to use government assistance such as food stamps in order to survive. This is not only bad for the employees but it is also costing taxpayers. Walmart does not offer benefits to their part-time workers who work less than twenty-eight hours a week. This can be seen as unethical because the employees are already being paid such...
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...array of products for his customers, while keeping the prices low to out compete the neighboring stores. His unique low priced strategies allowed him to boost sales and negotiate lower prices with his wholesalers. Once Walton’s retail operation started to take off, he decided to change the name to Walmart, by the use of his last name. He then established more than 9,600 factories, stores, and warehouses (Sam’s Club), throughout the United States, Asia, Mexico, Europe, and South America. Walmart has low prices, friendly workers, and many locations, but protesters will argue that the gender discrimination, harsh impact on the surrounding communities, and low wages, outweigh the benefits to Walmart. We thought gender discrimination ended with the ratification of the 19th amendment, but according to Wake-up Wal-mart.com, several cases have been recorded in the Walmart workplace. For example, in 2001, studies proved that for the same job classification, even after taking into account factors such as seniority and performance, women earned from 5 to 15 percent less than their male colleagues. Walmart was sued on this matter by six women claiming that Walmart systematically denied them promotions, and were paying them less than men. This lawsuit gathered more than 1.6 million women, which soon was declared the largest class action lawsuit ever. Due to these conditions, women and men wanted to leave Walmart and...
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...Should Antioch Let Walmart Build a Store? The City of Antioch has had a hard time being innovated over the years. The population has grown and it’s important to keep the level of demand up for the city. The city relies a large amount on small businesses to keep the city economy going, while keeping the citizens happy and safe. Opening up a Walmart superstore may appear to be a good idea, but in the long run it has been proven with evidence that Walmart’s actually add more costs for the city and its people. The first thing building a Walmart will take away is the amount of small businesses that surround the store, along with all their customers and employees. As a result of this taking place, many of the former employees from the smaller stores will end up working for Walmart. The issue with this is the fact that Walmart neither shows its employees respect nor gives them good working conditions, while setting them up for failure by not giving them enough benefits. It’s not a good idea for Antioch to build a Walmart, it simply won’t benefit those who need their jobs and would have a hard time finding a new one. First off, one big problem with opening up a Walmart superstore is what it would introduce to smaller surrounding businesses. Walmart sells very cheap product, and can usually beat the prices of any smaller business trying to make it in a small town like Antioch. Since Antioch businesses are all competing to win over their customers, opening up a Walmart will take away from...
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...| Walmart | | | | | Danielle S Holley | 11/28/2011 | | Firms choose from different business-level strategies in order to proposer in today’s markets. One of these being the Cost Leadership Strategy, an integrated set of actions taken to produce goods or services with features that are acceptable to customers at the lowest cost, in comparison to their competitors. Firms that chose to use this strategy must sell standardized goods and services which have to also include competitive levels of differentiation to the market’s regular customers. Cost leaders have to examine all support activities to find extra resources in order to cut production costs allowing them to maintain low costs for their customers. In any industry fixed and variable costs can cause companies to go out of business. Cost Leadership Strategy can put a strain on companies because they have to keep developing new technology that can support low cost goods and services (with differentiation) as well as low production costs to satisfy the needs of customers in the market place. Using this strategy effectively can earn firms above-average returns in spite of rivals in the industry. Having the low-cost position in an industry is valuable way to deal with competitors. The cost leader’s strategic position causes competitors to think twice before they compete on the basics of price and technology against the potential outcomes of such competition (Hitt). Walmart is known for its ability...
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...Management Across Cultures 1 March 2015 Abstract Walmart is one of the world’s largest and most well-known retailers in the world today. It has achieved great success in areas like Mexico and Canada; however it has also seen failures in other areas like Germany and Hong Kong. This paper will discuss a brief history of Walmart’s global expansions and the strategies it chose to enter these markets. It will answer the following specific questions: When did Walmart enter the global expansion? What international markets did Walmart enter? What cultural challenges has Walmart faced? How did Walmart overcome these challenges? Where future expansions and opportunities are possible? To answer these questions, this paper will have four basic sections: A brief history of Walmart’s global expansion, what was their strategy with each expansion, cultural differences they faced, and where is Walmart going in the future. This paper will attempt to examine the strategies of its global expansion and how it used the challenges to continue success in future expansions. Walmart is the most well-known and largest retailer in the world today; with sales worth more than $200 billion, $35 billion of that from Walmart’s International Division. The company grew incredibly fast both in the United States and abroad. By tweaking entry modes, and studying the cultural differences and local threats, the core business strategies Walmart chose to build its business on in America would...
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...Aubrey Weekes Cross Cultural Perspectives The Walmart Corporation is a large, major, and successful retailer in the United States. Walmart’s attempt at branching out in countries such as China, Mexico, Brazil, and Germany has failed. Globally Walmart is not performing well; they have had difficulties in these countries. Their global revenues, “grew by a mere 1% in 2013, and its revenue per square feet declined by 4.2%” (Team, 2014). The China market does not add much to Walmart’s profits, but it is important to Walmart in regards to enduring perspective. Mexico is a principle global site, but there are many problems there also. In Germany, Walmart failed basically because they thought they could implement American standards in the stores. Walmart is handling these issues, and solving them would be their main concern (Team, 2014). Walmart Culture Issues Hong Kong, Indonesia, and South Korea are failures for Walmart, mainly due to not adhering to the cultures of these countries, and abiding a code of ethics. A couple of obstacles are food and products were placed on shelves, not in line with the country, and stores were constructed a long distance from the cities making it difficult for people to reach them. Foreign people many of them walk to stores or take public transportation. American people will travel to buy food stocking up for a month or more. Buying in bulk is a major issue in Walmart. Foreign people either walk or take public transportation...
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...rampantly throughout the movie. The movie I chose was Walmart: The high cost of low prices. I’ll admit I’m not a fan of Walmart, I rarely shop there but I know many small towns that have no other option but Walmart. Walmart is the poster child for “Corporate Plutocracy” (Rothenberg, pg. 555). The movie begins with the CEO of Walmart giving what seems like a motivational speech. He’s touting the contributions that Walmart has made to the economy and how solid the company is. His speech then takes a turn, he starts talking about how they have inspired fear and...
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...Walmart Manages Ethics and Compliance Challenges Sanelesia Hawkins West Georgia Technical College Abstract Despite its financial success and international proliferation, Walmart and its business practices have generated controversy and divided public opinion. Supporters praise Walmart’s sales of needed household items and groceries at relatively low prices, while critics condemn the corporation’s generally low wages paid to employees and its tendency, as a big-box retailer, to put small, community-based stores out of business. As a result, Walmart is often the subject of intense social and political debates pertaining to capitalistic practices and ethical treatment of workers. Another major criticism of the company pertains to its long history of allegedly “invading” smaller towns and communities, establishing stores, and thereby driving small, family-owned and -operated stores out of business because they were unable to compete financially. Walmart Manages Ethics and Compliance Challenges Walmart has been criticized by many groups and individuals, including labor unions and other groups. It has been accused of selling merchandise at such low costs that competitors have tried to sue it for predatory pricing (intentionally selling a product at low cost in order to drive competitors out of the market). Over the last decade or so Walmart has become involved in numerous lawsuits for a variety of reasons. The majority of the suits are class action lawsuits in which employees...
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...Armstrong Southern New Hampshire University Abstract There has been an increasing enthrallment over global expansion across the globe. Likewise, there are many things that factor into making such an enormous decision a successful one. Some of these factors include, the strategies to which the business will use, what modes of entry they will take, and what are possible threats and opportunities that may arise. Choosing the right strategy to enter into a new market is key in determining the success of the company now and in the future. I. Introduction “Walmart Stores, Inc. was founded by American retail legend Mr. Sam Walton in Arkansas in 1962. Over nearly 50 years of development, the company has served customers and is now the world’s largest private employer and retailer, on the top of the Fortune 500 list. Walmart is among the most recognized global brands.” (Walmart China Factsheet) II. Global Expansion Lately, many large companies within the retail division who seek to increase their profits and hold a greater market share have decided to expand their companies globally. Global expansion has grown to the point where its not only attacking large companies, but has increased the efforts of those small-scale companies, those who are foreign to expanding internationally, and even those who have already ventured into international markets. There have been many up and coming retailers who have been successful with moving their business...
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...workers a more reliable schedules. (Huffington Post August 2, 2013). Along with a more reliable schedule for permanent employees Wal-Mart saves big bucks with no benefits and lower wages. History of Walmart Sam Walton opened the first Walmart in 1962 with the vision of low prices anytime anywhere. From there Sam Walton opened Sam’s Club wholesale stores and Walmart Superstores combining grocery and merchandise. In 1991 Sam’s Club went international opening in Mexico and with the purchase of Woolco in 1994 Walmart continued its international path opening in Canada. Walmart did not stop there with continued expansion into twenty-seven countries Walmart has over 2.2 million associates and serves over 200 million customers every week. (2012 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) Walmart Services and Products Walmart Charities and Scholarships In 2012 Walmart’s giving surpassed one billion dollars worldwide. Through Hunger Relief and Healthy Eating programs, plus a sustainability plan showing people how to live using fewer natural resources. Some of these initiatives have a focus on women worldwide with the Women’s Economic empowerment initiatives improving the lives of women all around the world. Walmart also feels very strong about helping those who have served find employment, Walmart originally committed ten million but in 2011 doubled that to twenty million to help service members and veterans....
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...An E-Business Analysis of Walmart Patricia Brandon-Garst E-Business Professor Victor Olufeso August 29, 2011 An E-Business Analysis of Walmart Walmart is the world’s largest company and quite possibly the most powerful retailer. Walmart began as strictly a brick and mortar store but has advanced into click and mortar over the last five decades. Walmart may soon become a major competition for huge online only retailers like Amazon. The recent acquisitions by Walmart are sure to be placing this retailer in place for an online invasion of epic proportions. Walmart was started by Sam Walton in rural Arkansas in 1962. Sam Walton had previously owned a franchise in the Ben Franklin stores since 1944 and also opened a small chain of stores called Walton’s 5 & 10. Sam Walton was extremely industrious and had a knack for increasing sales in businesses. His ability to find ways to slash prices to the lowest bottom line is the reason for the success of Walmart. (Sam Walton, 2009) Walmart stores have been geared toward the low-income customer segment. The concept of frugality is the central tenet of the company. Even the Walmart headquarters is a drab and plain building in a small town in central Arkansas. There are no luxuries at the headquarters and it is not based in a fancy big city. During the recent downturn of the world economy when other businesses were going under, Walmart had reported sales growth of 11%, amounting...
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...UNETHICAL BUSINESS PRACTICES OF WALLMART AND NIKE INTRODUCTION Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., branded as Walmart is an American multinational retail corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's second largest public corporation, according to the Fortune Global 500 list in 2013, the biggest private employer in the world with over two million employees, and is the largest retailer in the world. Walmart remains a family-owned business, as the company is controlled by the Walton family, who own a 48 percent stake in Walmart. It is also one of the world’s most valuable companies. The company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962, incorporated on October 31, 1969, and publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. It is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmart is also the largest grocery retailer in the United States. In 2009, it generated 51 percent of its US$258 billion sales in the U.S. from grocery business. It also owns and operates the Sam's Club retail warehouses in North America. In the late 1980s and early 1990s the company rose from a regional to national giant. By 1988, Wal-Mart was the most profitable retailer in the US and by October 1989 it had become the largest in terms of revenue. Geographically limited to the South and Lower Midwest up to the mid 1980s,...
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...caused them to actively fight for new markets, products, and services in order to sustain a competitive advantage. A company that has obtained success in its country of origin usually expands their services into the global economy to become an international business. These companies effectively control their financial and material resources by managing economies of scale, low cost production and fluctuations in currency. Human resources are also essential in the making of a successful company by recruiting talented individuals and encouraging innovation within the company. International companies can expand organically, which is a slow process that consists of building the business from ground up, or they can expand inorganically by buying out, or merging with, an existing business. If I had to create a new product idea, I would want to invent a new way to produce cheap efficient energy for the need of the masses. I would expand the company to international status using the inorganic global growth process. Due to advances in technology, and in today’s business market, most businesses have to compete globally. “These companies actively compete for new markets, products, and services in order to develop and sustain competitive advantage in the multinational business world. One advantage a company can obtain over other competitors is recruitment and train of human resources. Human resources like all other business resources, are now being managed on a global scale and those firms...
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...Ways Walmart Can Improve Their IT Systems Allison Malan Keller Graduate School of Management This paper is prepared for: Managerial Appls of Info Tech, Spring 2015, taught by Stephen Wheeler. Abstract 1. The subject of this paper is to discuss different IT problems and solutions in a large retail company. 2. This paper will discuss the IT Walmart currently uses and the ways in which Walmart would benefit by updating their systems. 3. The problem with Walmart’s current system is it is old and dated, making it harder and more time consuming to guide through. 4. Updating their current system will make it easier and more efficient to navigate through. 5. Initially this will cost a lot of money, since Walmart is such a large corporation. Over time, however, this will save the company many hours of labor. 6. This paper is directed to Walmart’s Home Office IT. Since the first Walmart store opened in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas, we've been dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our customers. Our business is the result of Sam Walton's visionary leadership, along with generations of associates focused on helping customers and communities save money and live better. (1) The Walmart U.S. segment includes the Company's mass merchant concept in the United States operating under the Walmart or Wal-Mart brands, as well as walmart.com. Walmart U.S. is the Company’s largest segment, having generated approximately 59% of the Company’s...
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