1. The High Cost of Low Prices
A Wal-Mart Background

2. 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

3. 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!

4. 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.

5. 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”

6. THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICES
THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICES

7. 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?