The High Cost of Low Prices A Wal-Mart Background

Wal-Mart History Found by Sam Walton & his brother James “Bud” Walton. It first opened in Arkansas. It is now the largest retail company in the world. 1948 – 1 Store 1962 – 2 Stores (Incorporated) 1979 – 276 Stores 1985 – 882 Stores 2005 – 6,200 Stores = 312 Billion in Revenue 2018 – 6,363 Stores = 495 Bullion in Revenue

Wal-Mart Facts Wal-Mart is the largest company in the world. If Wal-Mart were a country, it would rank 21st in the world in terms of GDP (wealth) Wal-Mart Annual sales in 2005 were higher than Target, Sears, K-Mart, JC Penny, & Kohl’s combined!

More Wal-Mart Facts Wal-Mart accounts for 10% of all Chinese exports If Wal-Mart were a country, it would be China’s seventh largest trading partner.

Is Wal-Mart Evil? “Since the mid 1990s alone, cheap imports from China have saved U.S consumers roughly $600 Billion and saved U.S manufacturers untold billions in cheaper parts and labor costs for their products”

THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf-Sr3SjBzk THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICES

As you watch… Consider the following questions: Why can’t small businesses compete with Wal-Mart? What advantages do they have over Walmart? What incentives do local governments provide Wal-Mart to encourage it to come to their communities? What negative effects does Wal-Mart have on communities? How does Wal-Mart keep labour expenses low? How does it discourage Unions? How does the film describe conditions in Wal-Mart factories in China? How might Wal-Marts business practices affect world business standards? How does Wal-Mart effect the quality of life of its employees, communities, and the world?