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Wal-Mart
Facts and Links
Here are facts about Wal-mart, taken from Bill Quinn's How Wal-Mart Is Destroying America (and the world) and What You Can Do About it. Below are links to web pages about Wal-Mart.
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- As Wal-mart moved into America's urban areas (as opposed to
suburban, where Wal-Mart began), it racked up over 12,000 lawsuits.
- In the 1970s Wal-Mart promised to keep its stores closed on
Sundays, in the 80s began to keep its stores open Sudnays, and
later it kept some stores open 24 hours a day.
- Wal-Mart promised it would never sell alcohol, and it is now
the largest retailer of spirits in the United States.
- Wal-Mart now has a massive presence in Canada, Britain, Germany,
and Mexico, as well as stores in Brazil, China, Korea, and Puerto
Rico.
- Close to 900,000 people are employed by
Wal-Mart in America, and no Wal-Mart stores
are unionized, except in China. (Thanks
to Amy
for pointing out that most Wal-Mart stores
in China are unionized.)
- Wal-Mart is the biggest retailer in the world, and it did
over $165 billion in sales in 1999.
- An article in Forbes magazine's 1991 "400 Richest"
issue described Wal-Mart's basic concept as "Discount stores in
small towns and rural areas, each big enough to freeze out competiton."
- Wal-Mart dodges taxes. A lot.
- New Wal-Mart stores study what local independent stores sell
and sell it for less--often at a loss--with the aim of forcing
independent businesses out of business.
- a 1995 survey in Iowa revealed what had happened in that state
since Wal-Mart had arrived in 1983:
- 50% of clothing stores had closed
- 30% of hardware stores had closed
- 25% of building materials stores had closed
- 42% of variety stores had closed
- 29% of shoe stores had closed
- 17% of jewellery stores had closed
- 26% of department stores had closed
- On average, about 100 stores go out of business in the area
surrounding a town with a new Wal-Mart store.
- According to Residents for Responsible Growth of Lake Placid,
New York, for every job created by Wal-Mart, at least 1.5 jobs
are lost, and numerous other studies give similar figures.
Anti-Wal-Mart links:
The fellow on the right wearing the anti-Wal-Mart shirt
is not Lloyd.
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