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That is really sad. I hate what Wally World does to historic downtown areas. I prefer Mom and Pop stores to those giant crap-carriers. Wally World will never see a dime of my money.
The old downtowns died because parking became a nightmare and the prices and products couldn't compete. WalMart found a better way to do business. They wouldn't be so succesfull if they weren't delivering what people want.
Incidentally, we are seeing a great downtown revival in our community and others are doing it as well. The old downtowns have to cater to higher end retail, arts, specialty shops, bars and restaurants and entertainment. The old 5 and dimes and hardware stores cannot compete with the big boxes.
The old downtowns died because parking became a nightmare and the prices and products couldn't compete. WalMart found a better way to do business. They wouldn't be so succesfull if they weren't delivering what people want.
Incidentally, we are seeing a great downtown revival in our community and others are doing it as well. The old downtowns have to cater to higher end retail, arts, specialty shops, bars and restaurants and entertainment. The old 5 and dimes and hardware stores cannot compete with the big boxes.
What I've personally experienced @ Walmart was not good.
Where should I begin? Being in the position of a manufacturer? I pay a red blooded American corn raised local an honest wage and I think 12.00 per hour is a fair wage for an apprentice. It is an investment, but how can a person be expected to survive on less? What does Wally pay? Who benefits? What happens when the cost of living is 2 X the average income? I'm also teaching a trade that stimulates the local economy through teaching localization techniques. We will not make any purchases that are not local. If it cannot be manufactured locally, we'll find some one local who can and will. I shopped @ wally's last night. I got robbed and assaulted. I fought back. And I will continue to fight back. Why? This is my neighborhood. My people live here. Because our localities are centers of life. Feed them, and they will thrive. Starve them and they will consume one another until all life is void. Protect them and they will learn to feel safe and protect eachother. Allow violence and they will kill eachother. I made my last trip to wallys. When the product on the shelf has become more important than my children and grandchildrens' safety and I, a 5' tall grandmother of 5 and mother of 4 and my 23 year old daughter and mother of 3 have to fend off the punk boys whos mama didnt teach them to make the right choice lurking @ wallys gang haven, to protect our babies, I get just a little bit ticked off. I'm sick and tired of all of it and I'm going to make a difference. Why not purchase local? It cost less and the money goes right back int the local economy. You dont have to have a degree in economics to figure that out.
The old downtowns died because parking became a nightmare and the prices and products couldn't compete. WalMart found a better way to do business. They wouldn't be so succesfull if they weren't delivering what people want.
Incidentally, we are seeing a great downtown revival in our community and others are doing it as well. The old downtowns have to cater to higher end retail, arts, specialty shops, bars and restaurants and entertainment. The old 5 and dimes and hardware stores cannot compete with the big boxes.
I'll add that Mom and Pop seem to be doing well as internet based business for niche markets from what I've seen online.
I prefer the old time hardware stores who had plenty of inventory on hand, knew just what I needed, special ordered parts, and gave me options for my projects. Big box hardware might give you a deal on dewalt, but when it comes to the rest, the selection is slim and quality sux. Their lumber is abysmal. The sales staff at home depot are no longer required to be knowledgeable in any subject other than what might be in an aisle.
Why not purchase local? It cost less and the money goes right back int the local economy. You dont have to have a degree in economics to figure that out.
It's pretty hard to make a case that the local stores are more cost competitive than Wal Mart. People may have other valid reasons for shopping there. For example, I buy my meat at a local butcher shop. Higher prices than Wal Mart, but you get what you pay for. Cartons of Dannon Yogurt? A lot cheaper at Wal Mart for the same thing, so I shop there.
As far as the local economy, there is a lot going back to the community. Start with the local taxes that goes to things like the local school system. All of the salaries of all the employees tend to be spent back in the community. Wal Mart, at least in my locale, is always contributing in some way to local events.
And please do a little field trip experiment for me. Go into a local hardware store, for example. Look at what is on the shelves. Things that have instructions written in three or more languages. Things that are shipped from far away places. Look and see what is really local in places like that.
It is kind of like the automotive metality. Why can't there be jobs like back in the fifties? Because things change. So the smaller stores can be profitable, but must find the right marketing nitche that makes people want to shop there instead of the big box stores. Plain and simple.
I do not shop Wal-mart. If I want something and cannot afford to buy it somewhere else I do without. I buy local produce in season and shop the local hardware store. It may cost a bit more but the service is worth it.
There is some commercial wisdom to the effect that it is better to be cheated in the price than in the quality of the merchandise. Likewise, it would be difficult to see the advantage of having a surplus of shoddy goods; but then, perhaps Wal-Mart knows better what is best for us.
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What I've personally experienced @ Walmart was not good.
