The Many Faces of
Your Local Wal-Mart
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Wal-Mart
What's Wal-Mart Into Now?
People love Wal-Mart. People hate Wal-Mart. But no matter which side of the fence you are on, one thing both can surely agree on is that Wal-Mart is a behemoth to be reckoned with.
Not content to be the largest grocery retailer and the largest toy seller in the U.S., the discount retailer continues to expand its repertoire. From prepaid money cards, to recycled T-shirts to new coffee product lines, see our roundup of what Wal-Mart is up to now.
First Slide: Who Needs Banks? -
Wal-Mart
Who Needs Banks?
Aiming for consumers who don't have bank accounts, Wal-Mart still wants a piece of the bank biz. According to DigitalTransactions.net, last year Wal-Mart cashed 45 million paychecks collectively worth $17 billion. It promotes the MoneyCard, which can accept direct deposits, when customers cash paychecks. Meanwhile, Wal-Mart is expanding the number of stores with "Money Center" areas near the front of the store. Some 494 stores had them at the end of fiscal 2008, and 15 more opened in March.
· Is MoneyCard a Good Deal?
Next: Say Hello to Mexico -
Wal-Mart
South-of-the-Border Banking
While Wal-Mart pushes on in the U.S. with its branded credit cards, prepaid money cards and check cashing, it originally had grander "banking" plans for Americans. It gave these up amid outcries by domestic banks. But according to Fortune, Wal-Mart has "found a more receptive audience south of the Border. In November, Wal-Mart de México opened its first consumer bank, Banco Wal-Mart, in Toluca; the company plans to launch 80 more by the end of the year."
· More on Wal-Mart's Mexican Move
Next: "Trashy" T-Shirts -
Wal-Mart
"Trashy" T-Shirts
From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
As part of its Earth Month program, Wal-Mart plans to sell a line of Coca-Cola branded T-shirts that are partially made from recycled plastic bottles.
The shirts, listed at $7.50, will be in about 400 U.S. Wal-Mart stores starting April 14. They will include phrases such as "Rehash Your Trash" and "Make Your Plastic Fanastic." This is the first time the shirts will hit a mass-market retailer.
Next: New Prototype Store -
Wal-Mart
More Energy-Efficient Stores
"Wal-Mart Stores has announced the introduction of its most energy efficient U.S. store, the HE.5 prototype that will use up to 45% less energy than the baseline Supercenter. Building upon learnings from previous high efficiency stores Wal-Mart opened in 2007 and 2008, the HE.5 begins a new series of prototypes designed for specific climates, the company said."
· Read Full Press Release
Next: Got Hormone-Free Milk? -
Milk Without Hormones
In March, Wal-Mart announced plans that it would begin selling milk under its own private label brand ("Great Value") that is not sourced from cows that have been treated with growth hormones. Growth hormones are administered to cows to increase their milk production, but critics argue that the injections lead to less healthy cows which are, in turn, more likely to be treated with antibiotics.
· Read Full BloggingStocks Post
Next: New Coffee Line -
Wal-Mart
Sustainable Coffee
On April 1, Wal-Mart announced the launch of six coffees under its exclusive Sam's Choice brand. Three of the brands are Fair Trade Certified, while the other three are certified by the Rainforest Alliance and USDA Organic. Wal-Mart's aim was to appeal to consumers with an affordable line of gourmet coffee that has a positive environmental and social impact. Unfortunately for Wal-Mart, BusinessWeek reports that while the launch pleased some, it has reheated a debate with others.
· A Controversy Brews Anew
Next: New Furniture Line -
Wal-Mart
New Home Furnishings Line
According to Reuters:
On March 4, Wal-Mart announced it is rolling out a new home furnishings brand, Canopy, as it tries to get lagging sales in that division back on track. The line will include bedding, furniture, bath accessories and dinnerware. Wal-Mart said the brand is designed "with a budget-wise customer in mind." It said prices will be up to 40% below those of competitors.
What's next? Expect a new line of Better Homes and Gardens products in the fall.
Next: Blu-ray Here to Stay -
Wal-Mart
Blu-ray Is 'Hi-Def' Winner
In a Feb. 15 press release, Wal-Mart announced that its store will move forward this year with one hi-definition movie and hardware format: Blu-ray. The change will take place quickly over the next several months as it will phase out HD DVD offerings and reorganize shelf-space. By June, it will offer only Blu-ray movies and hardware machines, as well as standard definition movies and DVD player.
· See Full Press Release
Next: Paging Dr. Wal-Mart -
Wal-Mart
Paging Dr. Wal-Mart
From the NYTimes:
The first of the new Clinic at Wal-Mart walk-in centers, as they will be called is to open in Little Rock, Ark. in April and be run by nurse practitioners. Wal-Mart said it plans to brand 200 of the new clinics with RediClinics. RediClinic, which already operates 13 clinics in Wal-Mart stores, plans to open one of the new units in Atlanta in April and another in Dallas next summer.
· RNCentral.com's Take:
20 Surprising Ways Wal-Mart Clinics Will Affect U.S. Healthcare
Next: "Toy Safety Net" -
"Toy Safety Net"
Last fall, Wal-Mart implemented a "Toy Safety Net" program after the slew of toy recalls and toy safety concerns that plagued parents and retailers. These new toy safety guidelines include more independent lab tests, new standards on heavy metals (including lead), new guidelines on Phthalates and encouragement of date codes.
· See Full Press Release
More: Busiest Stores in a Chain -
More on AOL:
Popular Chains' Busiest Locations
Think you know where McDonald's busiest restaurant is? If you said the Big Apple, you're wrong. It's not even in America.
We researched 26 of the most popular names in chains to find out the busiest location in the world for each. Sure, some turned out to be in New York City, but there were certainly some unexpected surprises as well.
Click through our gallery to see the busiest store in your favorite chain.
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Recent Comments
Michael771221 05:49:32 AM Oct 17 2008
When it come to walmart we only feed the had that helps to drive up the cost of health insurance and cost of living for all americans. It is disgusting that walmart should be an example to corprate america on what to do not what not to do. Walmart is the largest employer in the country if no the world but does not take care of its own employees. It is disgusting. Maybe with this recession this year they will finally get a taste of thier own medicine.
Shirleyhc3 07:45:10 PM May 28 2008
I went to Walmart today and it was jammed and people looked like the one's I usually see at upscale shops. Everyone seems to be financially strapped these days. Say what you will about Walmart ... it will prevail. Also use ENGLISH, that is our official language.
Lyloks2051 08:10:51 AM May 12 2008
I for one will go out of my way NOT to spend money at Wal-Mart
gbelter777 07:41:06 PM May 10 2008
sam walton has your undies so wear em with pride, right Americasmuseum?
Sgsellsit 09:50:54 AM May 08 2008
We just have to look at the circumstances surrounding the brutal and thoughtless business tactics of places such as Wal-Mart. Hey, if I could buy product, sell what I could, send back the excess and then pay my bill six months later at a reduced rate just because you lucky I am buying from you, i'd be filthy rich too. Check into Wal-Mart business practices sometime, it will devesate you. All in all we have brought these evils upon ourselves for the sake of complaining about standing behind a counter for $5.15 an hour. Making comments like "My time is worth $25.00 an hour or I am not doing it". GREED! plain and simple. Let us reunite as people, not money and posession hungry animals out to knaw the jugular of everyone around us. If we could simplify our lives and show the powers that be that the PEOPLE are in control, we may one day have a better life.
OH YEAH!! NAFTA. Boy that was good decision BILL!!!. Over 3800 jobs gone in my area alone. That was in less than three years.
Sgsellsit 09:49:04 AM May 08 2008
I am not saying we can go into any store and buy all american goods. We just have to look at the circumstances surrounding the brutal and thoughtless business tactics of places such as Wal-Mart. Hey, if I could buy product, sell what I could, send back the excess and then pay my bill six months later at a reduced rate just because you lucky I am buying from you, i'd be filthy rich too. Check into Wal-Mart business practices sometime, it will devesate you. All in all we have brought these evils upon ourselves for the sake of complaining about standing behind a counter for $5.15 an hour. Making comments like "My time is worth $25.00 an hour or I am not doing it". GREED! plain and simple. Let us reunite as people, not money and posession hungry animals out to knaw the jugular of everyone around us. If we could simplify our lives and show the powers that be that the PEOPLE are in control, we may one day have a better life.
OH YEAH!! NAFTA. Boy that was good decision BILL!!!. Ove
Sgsellsit 09:47:14 AM May 08 2008
Wal-Mart!!! Don't get me started. It amazes me to see the backwards thinking masses flock to this disgrace. It erks me to to hear all the so called, hardcore, UNION, I'M A PROUD AMERICAN, FLAG WAVERS talk about the good prices at Wal-Mart. Not to mention the everyday joe complaining about illegal aliens and other world population taking our jobs only to be shopping at Wal-Mart and hour later. Case in point, Wal-Mart is the largest importer of foreign goods in the world, even some food is imported from overseas. The shipping, train and trucking industry just keeps it pouring in. They even suggest overseas manufacturers to domestic companies so that they can get cheaper prices. They are supporting the american job loss rate. However, by supporting Wal-Mart, we show our lack of need for quality. We show our lack of pride and trust in the american industry. I am not saying we can go into any store and buy all american goods. We just have to look at the circumstances surrounding
SOCRATESSS 12:34:27 PM May 07 2008
No se porque la gente es tan inquisidora con Wal - Mart . Tienen locales hasta cerca de las Piramides en Mexico. Si no les gusta . No vayan .
