This website, by Amy Mikeman and Walter Floyd is about the globalization of the Wal-Mart corporation. Wal-Mart is a transnational corporation, which means that they extend not only across the United States, but around the world. There are many questions about Wal-Mart. What business practices have they used to become the largest retailer in the world? Are these practices fair? And most importantly, how is Wal-Mart effecting smaller businesses around Oklahoma and what effect does it have on the lives of citizens.
Picture courtesy of Wal-Mart corporation website: <www.walmartstores.com>
The first Wal-Mart opened in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. It was founded by Sam Walton, an entrepreneur that valued treating his customers with respect, and providing a pleasant shopping experience. that It has been growing from then on. Today Wal-Mart is the biggest retail company in the world, earning over 244.5 billion dollars per year. Wal-Mart offers low prices on everything from groceries to electronic appliances. Wal-Mart is growing rapidly from its small town start, and is taking the world by storm. There are more than 1100 Wal-Mart stores in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, China, Korea, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Wal-Mart is driving smaller companies out of business with their low prices and wide selection.
Sam Walton
Photo courtesy of Time Magazine Web Site:
http://www.time.com/time/time100/builder/profile/walton.html