I Heart Walmart
This article from CNN discusses Walmart's next hurdle: its image. CEO Lee Scott claims he likes to talk with people who don't really like Walmart to try and make it better. Well, that's me.
I rarely go into Walmart, and when I do, I almost immediately regret it. Sort of like eating at McDonalds: in principle it seems likea great idea, but twenty minutes later after I've just chowed down a few double cheeseburgers, I get the runs.
Ok Mr. Scott, listen up. Maybe what I have to say won't work well in rural West Virginia, but you've conquered that territory years ago. Its my world you want, upper income suburbs. And this is what we hate:
Cleanliness:
Walmart is dirty. Very dirty. I know you can't do anything about getting your loyal clientel to shower more frequently, but at least keep the store clean. No dust bunnies, no grease on the carts, no wads of paper floating around the bathroom. Target is never dirty.
Space:
We've accepted that you are going to turn acres of open space into a giant parking lot and warehouse size store. So stop trying to save a few square feet and make the aisles bigger. Everytime I'm in Walmart, I only want to leave because everything is so tightly packed in there. Since you've already plowed under the farm, why not add a few thousand square feet to the store so I'm not tripping over extra super savings when I turn a corner.
Drop the Social Agenda:
You're a corporation, not an evangelist. Every corporation has some bad things to labor, the environment, and civil society, and while most have not destroy Main Street USA, even this can be overlooked.
But the reason I GO OUT OF MY WAY to avoid shopping at Walmart is the social agenda the corporation is pushing. RU-486? Censored CD coverart? Removing books from your shelves?
So you want to promote a "family atmospher". Right. Fine. You don't need to have end of aisle displays showcasing RU-486, but at least stock it behind the counter. Satan a little too much to but on the CD stand? Fine. Hide it behind the counter. Don't like the free press? Don't sell books. Its unacceptable that Walmart feels they should judge what I want or can purchase.
Drop this social nonsense and we'll gladly come to Walmart more often. Until then, you can find us in the Target.
I rarely go into Walmart, and when I do, I almost immediately regret it. Sort of like eating at McDonalds: in principle it seems likea great idea, but twenty minutes later after I've just chowed down a few double cheeseburgers, I get the runs.
Ok Mr. Scott, listen up. Maybe what I have to say won't work well in rural West Virginia, but you've conquered that territory years ago. Its my world you want, upper income suburbs. And this is what we hate:
Cleanliness:
Walmart is dirty. Very dirty. I know you can't do anything about getting your loyal clientel to shower more frequently, but at least keep the store clean. No dust bunnies, no grease on the carts, no wads of paper floating around the bathroom. Target is never dirty.
Space:
We've accepted that you are going to turn acres of open space into a giant parking lot and warehouse size store. So stop trying to save a few square feet and make the aisles bigger. Everytime I'm in Walmart, I only want to leave because everything is so tightly packed in there. Since you've already plowed under the farm, why not add a few thousand square feet to the store so I'm not tripping over extra super savings when I turn a corner.
Drop the Social Agenda:
You're a corporation, not an evangelist. Every corporation has some bad things to labor, the environment, and civil society, and while most have not destroy Main Street USA, even this can be overlooked.
But the reason I GO OUT OF MY WAY to avoid shopping at Walmart is the social agenda the corporation is pushing. RU-486? Censored CD coverart? Removing books from your shelves?
So you want to promote a "family atmospher". Right. Fine. You don't need to have end of aisle displays showcasing RU-486, but at least stock it behind the counter. Satan a little too much to but on the CD stand? Fine. Hide it behind the counter. Don't like the free press? Don't sell books. Its unacceptable that Walmart feels they should judge what I want or can purchase.
Drop this social nonsense and we'll gladly come to Walmart more often. Until then, you can find us in the Target.
Labels: Consumerism
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