Something Was Missing - Poor Mr. Smiley

Poor Mr. Smiley has been demoted. Maybe he was involved in union talk or complained about poor pay and benefits. Or, maybe he just wasn't 'upscale' enough. Do you think he got severance pay?

Wal-Mart spends nearly as much each year to make us feel good about not paying health care costs for employees, locking immigrant workers inside stores overnight and firing managers who complain about unfair practices.... More here.

Tough to Legislate Wal-Mart Out of Your Community

Because Wal-Mart does not provide sufficient health care coverage for employees, the state of Maryland passed a law that requires Wal-Mart to spend more on employee health care. H. Lee Scott the president and chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. thinks the law is 'ridiculous'. "We are not going to go away that easily," Scott said. "It's going to be tough to legislate Wal-Mart out of your community." More here.

Maybe it would be worthwhile for Wal-Mart to investigate why governments are trying to "legislate" them out of our communities. Is there something Wal-Mart could do to improve it's public image besides whining about how the largest company on earth is always being picked on? Wal-Mart has no problem paying Mr. Scott 17 million in compensation (2004), maybe spending a little on their 'associates' would be in order.

Wal-Mart Playing Catch-Up With Target?

Wal-Mart stock down 4% last year. Target stock is up 7%. How does Wal-Mart plan to catch up? Well, maybe creating a fictional cast of characters will help it boost lackluster sales.

Wal-Mart is claiming they don't want to be like Target in spite of the fact they are now building 'upscale' Wal-Mart stores in some areas.

Vice Chairman John Menzer said. "Our customers are moving from a focus on price, to a focus on value, and we are moving with our customers."

What exactly does that mean Mr. Menzer? Why can't we have quality goods for a slightly higher price? Isn't that value? Wouldn't treating your employees better be a value to you, them and their community?

SAGA E-Newsletter

Sound Adirondack Growth Alliance (SAGA) has published an electronic newsletter for April. The main article is called "It's about size and location - not being pro or anti-Wal-Mart". SAGA's position is that the Town of North Elba size restrictions, 40,000 sq ft for a single store and 68,000 sq ft for a shopping center, should be followed for any new retail development. Any proposed shopping center should also be located downtown and not at the currently proposed village sandpit site. SAGA also points out that it would take a minimum of two years before any new shopping center could be opened because of the required review processes. The entire article (pdf) can be read at the SAGA website or just click here.

Wal-Mart and Ethics Day

The Community College of Baltimore County held an ethics day on April 4th. The theme was 'Ethics and the Economy' and Gary W. Hill, director of the Global Ethics Offices for Wal-Mart was one of the panelists.

Mr. Hill evidently had some difficulty answering some of the questions posed by participants.

Mike Dean, lobbyist and president of Communications Workers of America, asked how ethical it is for Wal-Mart to give Medicaid forms to employees when other businesses have to pay for Medicaid. Hill had no answer, and Dean asked, “Why are you here if you can't answer?”

Hill could also not answer questions posed about unions or how charitable donations by Wal-Mart compared with those of other large companies.

Read more here.

Oprah and Minimum Wage

Oprah is taking on the minimum wage topic. Could you live 30 days on just $5 an hour? For millions of people, this is reality. No credit, no savings…life on minimum wage.

Being aired today I think. Go here to view short video and read more about 'Inside the Lives of People Living on Minimum wage'.

Also, one of Oprah's recommended books 'The Betrayal of Work: How Low-Wage Jobs Fail 30 Million Americans By Beth Shulman' here.

Dispels some of the 'myths' of low wage jobs:

that most low-wage workers are teenagers, immigrants, or high-school dropouts

that being in low-wage employment is a stepping stone to a better position

that making bad jobs into good jobs requires insurmountably difficult reforms

that low-wage work is always low-skilled

Wal-Mart 'Botox'

From the theLedger.com:

Wal-Mart's ambitious plan for upgrading rundown stores calls for remodeling 1,800 of them in 18 months by adding mock-hardwood flooring in the apparel area, widening aisles and upgrading bathrooms. Wal-Mart will improve the layout and fixtures in the electronics, apparel and baby departments.

Wal-Mart is also going to increase the number of it's part-time employee's from 20% to 40%. HSBC Holdings PLC called Wal-Mart's remodeling plans 'botox', arresting decline but not relaunching growth.

Voters for Change Request Village to Stop Rezoning

Voters for Change, a local progressive political action group, formally requested that the SL Village Board stop the process of rezoning the village sandpit area.

Since the SEQR process is already ~80% complete and the consultants paid, SL Mayor Tom Micheal said it "makes more sense to move forward".

Read more here at WNBZ news.

Wall Street and Wal-Mart

It seems Wall St. thinks Wal-Mart could do better in a couple of areas.

What's more, some Wal-Mart watchers say investors are becoming increasingly frustrated that the company's spending an inordinate amount of time trying to diffuse its public relations crises and not giving enough attention to improving weak spots in its business.

A couple of recommendations include:

Bolster labor relations

As the nation's biggest private employer with 1.3 million workers, Wal-Mart has become an easy target for union-backed groups critical of its pay and benefits.

That means that Wal-Mart needs to make a dedicated and even more visible push to better its relationship with workers, and with communities where it does business.

Attract new customers

Last but not least, Wal-Mart's got to think outside of its "big-box" if its wants to win new customers and rejuvenate growth, said Love Goel, CEO of Growth Ventures, an investment firm focused on retailers.

Why can't Wal-Mart management see these issues?

An Associate - Revisited

A visit to Working At Wal-Mart is enlightening. First written anonymously by 'An Associate' (so he wouldn't be fired I imagine), 23 year old Josh Smith talks about his experiences as a Wal-Mart 'Associate'.

On October 12th, 2005 I was hired as an associate at WAL-MART Supercenter #2046 in Augusta, ME. As a temporary (and later part-time) hire, I averaged 32 hours per week at $7.40 per hour, with no benefits. My hours were erratic and I worked throughout the store as a cashier and door guard, in customer service and layaway, and at times even helping the stockmen and sales floor associates. All the while I witnessed the company cheat their employees out of benefits and raises, ignore workplace safety hazards, rig charitable-giving totals, engage in gender discrimination... It didn't take much of this for me to realize how difficult a job this truly is, especially given the intense pressure, the culture of fear, and the utter lack of respect handed down by the company. But I think what makes this job nearly unbearable is that, at the end of the day, despite working for the largest corporation in the world, these workers must return home to a life of poverty.

ADE Commentary - The Broadway-Depot St. Market Place

In yesterday’s Adirondack Daily Enterprise there is a commentary by Frank Casier entitled ‘The Broadway-Depot St. Market Place’. Mr. Casier suggests reviving a plan to redevelop a deteriorated area in Saranac Lake.

Mr. Casier writes:

“The area lies between Broadway and the railroad tracks, behind the fire house, Adirondack Tire, the Adult Center and other properties. It extends from Depot Street almost to Cedar Street, adjacent to the renovated Railroad Depot.”

This is the largest, mostly open, piece of property in the downtown area of Saranac Lake. It used to be a coal yard, a lumber yard, and a train yard. The property is made up of small parcels owned by at least a dozen people. It is currently hidden from the view of most passers-by except those that ride the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. It is an ideal area for re-development. According to Mr. Casier, the village board approved the re-development of the Depot Street area as long ago as August 13, 1979.

Mr. Casier goes on to say:

“It is a matter of setting better priorities and making more intelligent decisions to fulfill the community’s greatest needs. Wal-Mart on Lake Flower is not the only choice.”

Mr. Casier, a land developer in his own right, points out that “there are government agencies such as Urban Renewal that could be brought into the effort.” That is certainly a possibility. But wouldn’t it be better if Wal-Mart actually worked with village officials to develop this downtown area? The positive PR it would give Wal-Mart would probably be worth as much as they pay Edelman and Crosslink Strategy Group for one years worth of propaganda.

Wal-Mart, build a smaller store in the downtown area and you will be welcomed into Saranac Lake by at least 80% of the residents. Who knows, even the other 20% of us might come around sooner or later. However, as someone has previously pointed out in comments on this blog, Wal-Mart does not seem to be interested in doing small and they do not seem to be interested in locating in downtown business areas - Rutland, VT being at least one exception.

There is a piece of news from the WNBZ website that pre-dates this blog. As pointed out by Mr. Casier, this concerns a message delivered to the Harrietstown board by Mr. Parker, Kurtz, Drury and McCormick last February.

"Considering Wal-Mart’s plans to come to Saranac Lake are still in the initial stages, Parker said the mega-retailer might be convinced to locate in the downtown. “If we can show them the possibility of doing a downtown alternative, we could get their ear,” he said.

Parker noted that Wal-Mart has been experimenting in recent years with fitting its stores into smaller sites. He said there are at least three locations in Saranac Lake’s downtown that the company could consider. “This could be a flagship store for them,” he said." You can read it all here.

Wal-Mart PR - Working Families for Wal-Mart

In recent weeks, Wal-Mart has been asking thousands of their shoppers to join 'Working Families for Wal-Mart'. Fill out a form and support your local Wal-Mart but don't ask exactly where the information is going because it's going to a Washington-based consulting firm with close ties to the Republican Party.

"I just filled out the paper," said Tamymy Ramos, 27, who signed up outside of a Wal-Mart on Saturday after a shopping trip with her 3-year-old daughter.

Ramos, a native of Brazil, wasn't sure what she would get in exchange for giving up her name, address and e-mail address. "He told me, but I forgot. Maybe some coupons," she guessed.

Read more here.

She is actually giving her information to Edelman PR, a global public relations firm and to consulting firm Crosslink Strategy Group, founded by Terry Nelson.

McCain Strategist Terry Nelson supervised James Tobin during New Hampshire phone jamming scandal; Tobin convicted of federal telephone arassment charges. McCain strategist Terry Nelson served as middleman in DeLay TRMPAC money laundering scheme, named in indictment and had to testify. More here and here.


Draw your own conclusions about how Wal-Mart sucks its customers into 'grassroots' organizations.

Wal-Mart Realty

I had no idea that Wal-Mart had their own Realty website. I like the little ads on the bottom of the page requesting you shop at Wal-Mart and Sam's. Of course not the stores that are listed for sale on the website.

Go here to see the full color pdf for the sale of the Brockport, NY Wal-Mart store. 98,578 sq ft, 13.76 acres and 360 ft wide by 269 ft deep. Maps, floor plans, population facts and all are provided. Or maybe you would prefer Geneseo, NY. I guess Geneseo got a new 204,137 square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Is Wal-Mart Leaving or Not?

From Chicago Tribune:

When the tiny village of East Dundee landed one of the first Wal-Mart stores in the Chicago area 15 years ago, officials gave the retail giant a tax break as a welcome present.

Now it seems Wal-Mart Co. is planning to pack up its wares and leave the Kane County town. Apparently, however, it forgot to give notice to the village, its customers or even employees.
East Dundee officials were stunned to learn via a commercial real estate listing last week that Wal-Mart would vacate the 120,000-square-foot store at Higgins Road and Dundee Avenue by winter of 2007.

Losing the store would blow a huge hole in the village's budget. The Wal-Mart provided $365,000 of the village's $1.9 million in sales tax revenue for 2004-05, interim Village Manager Paul Nicholson said.

Wal-Mart spokesman John Bisio called the listing premature and said he had no knowledge of plans to shut the East Dundee store but would not rule it out.


More here and here.

A Question for Wal-Mart - Answered

Asked below on March 27th. One answer today: Wal-Mart's Dirty Secret.

In the past few years, Wal-Mart has:

Opposed the introduction of anti-terrorist "smart containers" and electronic seals for cargo containers coming into U.S. ports. The retail industry called them "feel good (security) measures."
Opposed independent and regular inspections of supply-chain security practices around the world.
Opposed tougher rules requiring Wal-Mart to let Customs know what it's shipping in and where it comes from.
Opposed new container-handling fees to pay for improved port security.
The corporate lobbyists at RILA boasted in a 2005 lobbying report to Wal-Mart and other retailers about its "continued industry leadership in opposition to ill-advised and onerous port security measures (i.e., cargo fees, increased physical inspections)." In fact, beating back meaningful port security measures topped RILA's agenda.

RILA responds here.

Wal-Mart "is as American as mom and apple pie"

Media Matters has a good summary of why this may not be true.

My Mom doesn't strike me as the kind of person who would perfect an apple pie recipe and then outsource the production of that apple pie to Chinese children making 5 cents an hour. It just isn't in her character.

From pete592 / Wednesday March 22, 2006 02:03:44 PM EST in discussion section located on the above link. Priceless.

Wal-Mart Visits

Domain Name walmart.com ? (Commercial)
IP Address 161.165.196.# (Wal-Mart Stores)
ISP Wal-Mart Stores
Location Continent : North America
Country : United States (Facts)
State : Arkansas
City : Bentonville
Lat/Long : 36.2995, -93.9568 (Map)
Distance : 1,144 miles

We get an occasional visit from Bentonville. You would get more support for a smaller downtown Wal-Mart in Saranac Lake guys.

WalMart Continues Fight to Win Hearts and Minds

WalMart has instituted an economic development program that will locate new stores in economically blighted areas. In an attempt to put on a better face Wal-Mart has plans to establish 10 "jobs and opportunity zones." The first of these will be located in the Chicago area.

"The zones will encompass the Wal-Mart store and a host of local businesses and suppliers with which Wal-Mart will work to increase job creation and economic opportunity in surrounding neighborhoods," Wal-Mart said in a statement.

Read more here.

Wal-Mart Dethroned By Exxon Mobil - Fortune 500

Exxon Mobil tops the Fortune 500 list for 2005 beating out Wal-Mart. While Exxon had revenues of 340 billion dollars, an increase of 25.5% over 2004 (what a surprise), Wal-Mart only had revenues of 315.6 billion dollars. An increase of 9.5% over 2005. Article here.

SL Village Sandlot to Become Wal-lyworld?

According to an article in todays Adirondack Daily Enterprise the village sandlot on Lake Flower Ave. is to become a Wal-lyworld. ADE reporter Geoff Hayward interviewed Clark Griswald, one of those 'transplants' to the area. Griswald said "The timing of this announcement is really what people should be paying attention to" "To go behind the people's backs like this is unconscionable."

Many Tri-Lakes area residents were unhappy about the Wal-lyworld on the outskirts of the village. However they realized that Wal-lyworld would have just relocated in the next village over if they were not allowed to build on the sandlot site.