Counter Culture

Check out this cool animation pointed out to us on Wal-Mart’s store growth created by FlowingData.

It shows, in an interesting graphic presentation, Wal-Mart’s growth throughout the country since 1964.

We think it kind of looks like bombs dropping. Click on the image below and see what you think.

From: FlowingData

June sales results proved that discount chains are the ones winning the battle during this recession downturn.

According to ICSC’s monthly same-store sales survey, luxury stores experienced a 10.9% year over year decline in June, while discounters rose 5.1%. Wal-Mart’s 6.4% gain compared with Nordstrom’s 18.6% decline tells the plainly tells the story.
Continue reading ‘Discounters Rule the Retail Landscape’

We remember, not long ago, when Wal-Mart collected more negative headlines than Kobe Bryant hit fade-away jump shots.

Towns didn’t want the retailer to open a store in its borders. The company treated its employees like dirt. It was destroying the environment. Mom and pop stores were being laid to waste by Wal-Mart’s expansion. There were countless critics and a well-publicized documentary was released.
Continue reading ‘Is Wal-Mart Criticism Waning?’

A tax rebate this year that President Bush recently approved would put between $600 and $1,200 in the hands of most taxpayers. And according to this article, many retail executives seem to think that this money will potentially end up in their stores.

“Wal-Mart and Circuit City are putting together strategies to draw in customers for what retailers say will be a bigger payoff than Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day,” the article says. Mike Ullman, the chairman at J. C. Penney, says stores “would obviously compete vigorously” for shares of this money.
Continue reading ‘Will Rebate Checks Help Retailers?’

To the surprise of few, wholesale clubs and discounters had the strongest sales in February, as the economy continues to smack down consumers. Costco’s same-stores sales rose 7% year over year, and Wal-Mart’s chains advanced a solid (for this environment) 2.6%.

But February’s results still left us with some questions.
Continue reading ‘Costco, Wal-Mart Benefit From Downturn’

A recent New York Times article looks at an interesting development. Certain Wal-Mart employees in merchandising are blogging about some of the products the retail giant is selling – and not always favorably.

Called Check Out, the blog features comments by employees that specialize in gadgets, lawn and garden, sustainability and other topics. Other than product reviews, they also tackle such subjects as what taxpayers will do with this year’s economic stimulus checks and thoughts on Super Tuesday.
Continue reading ‘Wal-Mart’s Employees Are Blogging’

Wal-Mart today announced record sales for its fourth quarter, topping $100 billion. According to CEO Lee Scott, this is the first time any retailer has ever done that in a quarter, and we have no reason not to believe him.

Earnings came in just under $4.1 billion, a 4% increase over last year. And though they weren’t terribly strong, same-store sales without gas rose 1.7% year over year at the retail giant’s US stores.
Continue reading ‘Are Wal-Mart’s Record Sales an Indicator?’

Is Wal-Mart taking on Tesco as the latter ramps up its US presence? Yes, according to a report in the Financial Times. Wal-Mart is apparently testing four 20,000-sf, grocery-store units to compete with the British retailer’s rollout , which will feature 10,000-sf locations.

The article says that the logo of the new store come “with a stylised tomato, egg and grape topped by a Wal-Mart blue star” guesses that the store will “have a far stronger stress on fresh foods.”
Continue reading ‘Wal-Mart Ramping Up Against Tesco?’