78,000 sf Walmart coming to SoWal [opening June15]

[30A Skunkape]

For the Health of It
both Tom Thumbs
Sally's by the Seastore
Santa Rosa Pharmacy
every store at Grand Blvd

there are too many local businesses to begin to name. they will literally all be effected in some way.

Tom Thumbs and the like thrive in the shadows of Wal-Marts all up and down HWY 98. Sally's is a bar! For the Health of it is in no danger unless their very dedicated clientele leave them due to Wal-Mart selling goods and services that FTHOI does (and they are not going to).

 

[Andy A]

Tom Thumbs and the like thrive in the shadows of Wal-Marts all up and down HWY 98. Sally's is a bar! For the Health of it is in no danger unless their very dedicated clientele leave them due to Wal-Mart selling goods and services that FTHOI does (and they are not going to).

I think you're dead on on all of your posts regarding WalMart. While I love the elitist attitude of many who live on or close to 30A, WalMart is on 98. Also, I note with interest that according to Kurt's post there are many other interests to be built besides WalMart. They include some that interest me particularly. The idea that an asssisted living facility may be so close to where I live is an interesting concept and one that I will be watching closely.

 

[Koa]

competiton can be a good thing. I like Publix in general and have gotten used to their prices, which are really high when compared to Walmart, for most everything. I occasionally shop at Walmart, and might be more likely to shop at a smaller store. I'd much rather shop at Watercolor Publix than their large stores (except for high-tourists season).

Walmart will benefit some people by saving them money. They will also create some of those evil things called jobs. It isn't all pretty, when they replace all those trees with asphalt and concrete, but I'm not sure where all those shoppers would have to park if they didn't have a parking lot.

I find it fascinating that some people brag on what a good thing Target is, while dissing Walmart. I've been in both. Both take up a large chunk of land, converting trees to asphalt. Both bring competition to mom and pop stores as well as big stores like stand alone pharmacies. Both pay low wages. Both provide cheap crap, but with different styles and different labels. The are retailers, mostly selling the same stuff. Both have not so great customer service, if any. Some say that Target is cleaner, but I think that may because of less foot traffic. Target always feels empty when I go there.

 

[scooterbug44]

I posted a long list of reasons why Publix and Target are MUCH better for a community than Wal-mart earlier in the thread. Good info, so I reposted it.

Also find it worth mentioning that for all the claims that Wal-mart is such an indispensable place, I haven't been inside a Wal-mart since this thread started. ;-)

#165 PUBLIX

I can't speak for everyone, but IMO Publix and Wal-mart are 2 very different beasts. Everything is different from the appearance of the store's exterior to their involvement in the community and the overall pleasantness of the shopping experience.

While Publix may be compared to Walmart because of its size (though a Publix is a fraction of the size of a Wal-mart), its approach to business and the community is very different - and the statistics and cold hard facts back up my gut instincts and ranting.

Publix is an employee owned company (the largest in the US with more than 50% employee ownership) regularly recognized for customer service and being a good employer.

Publix has been listed by Fortune magazine as one of the 100 Best Places to Work in America every year since the list was created in 1998 and it is also listed as one of the top 25 best paying companies on the list.

Publix is also very philanthropic, among the top 10 for donations to the United Way. They also raise money & donate food for a variety of other charities.

In addition to their branching out w/ their Greenwise brand and dedicated Greenwise stores (w/ free wi-fi) Publix also offers cooking lessons and tips for its customers to help improve health and nutrition.

I have also yet to hear of a Main Street or small town decimated by a Publix moving to town, a Publix locking its employees inside the store after hours, seen birds flying around the store pooing on the produce, or heard the billion + tab for the health care and other social programs the taxpayers are paying for Publix employees because they go out of their way to deny benefits and pay well.

Publix may be a growing 5 state supermarket chain, but they behave like a small neighborhood grocery should - special orders, personal service, customization to locales, and a sense of community and humor.

Does anyone know the manager of the Wal-mart? Ever seen him/her?

The last time I saw the Publix manager he was honking and waving to us during the Elf ride and it's a rare occassion for me to go into the store and not have him greet me or see him helping others.

#330 TARGET

1) Target stores are more attractive and blend into a community better - they typically are smaller than a Wal-mart, have landscaping, and maintain their space to avoid becoming an eyesore. Target will move into an existing building and renovate it instead of always building new - even though this is a very expensive practice. They work with local guidelines and radically change the architecture and layout of their stores to fit into an area.

2) Target is one of the most philanthropic companies in the US, gives a minimum of 5% to charity (vs. less than 1/10% at Wal-mart), provides long term housing for families of St. Jude patients, and has a credit card program where you can donate to a local school (more than $150 million to date). They donated $6 million to help renovate the Washington Monument.

During disasters they not only contribute millions in dollars and goods, they spearhead fundraising efforts, and volunteer their stores as command centers for relief efforts.

They started their own forensics laboratories to combat crime in their stores that are so successful they are in great demand by a wide variety of law enforcement agencies - pro bono of course.

In addition to their partnering with United Way and the Salvation Army for holidays, they are also the corporate sponsor of many events, including providing free or reduced admisison to a variety of museums.

3) Target employs more than the national average of minorities in all jobs and an even higher percentage in management. They seek out vendors owned by women and minorities. Target gives domestic partner benefits and was named one of the "100 best companies for working mothers."

Target partners with vendors and suppliers instead of taking them over.

4) Target refuses to sell firearms or tobacco products and will only sell children's toy guns if they cannot be in any way mistaken for a real gun.

5) In addition to not gouging consumers for items shipped to our military as beachmouse posted, Target does not charge service fees or have expiration dates on its gift cards.

6) Target is much more environmentally friendly. Their stores only use LED or flourescent lights, have low flow restrooms that use 30% less water, have recycling programs (ranging from cardboard and hangers to ceiling tiles and shopping carts), and certain stores have green roofs/roof gardens or run solely on wind power (all Oklahoma Targets). Target is working to reduce their use of plastics, switching from PVCs to safer products, making gift cards from corn resin, and phasing out plastic wrapping of its merchandise.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Scooterbug, you and I must be going to different Targets. I've been to the ones in PC, PCB, and Destin and they aren't as pretty as you make them feel and they certainly don't blend into the environment.

As for Publix, I like Publix, much more than Walmart. However, on several grocery items that I have checked prices, WaterColor Publix is more than twice as expensive as Walmart. I hate that! I likely spend more than $5,000 a year on groceries for myself. If I'm paying twice as much at Publix, that could mean a yearly savings of more than $2,500, without changing the brands I buy. (I laugh when the cashiers tell me that I "saved $.... today by shopping at Publix.") Yes, Publix may be paying more, and paying benefits to employees, and giving money to charities, but it is really the customers who are doing that, not Publix, via higher prices. At some point, people will opt to save money, if it simply means buying from one store vs another. It is somehow viewed as being evil if some big employer doesn't pay benefits, but no one balks at restaurants, and most servers don't receive health benefits from their employers.

One way to ditch all of these big stores is to shop at local groceries like For the Health of It and Modica Market.

In your "comparison of Walmart to Publix and Target, I didn't see a real comparison, because you left out Walmart on the positives. Walmart does several of the things about which you brag about Target.

On the same note, someone mentioned Tom's shoes to me the other day. Tom's donates a pair of new shoes to the shoeless people around the world, for every pair sold. My reply was that if that is the case, I'm overpaying if I buy Tom's shoes, by double the price. Tom's is able to write off all profits, if they do this, not reporting any income, and it comes at my cost. If I want to shoe the shoeless, I'll keep that choice for myself, and reap the benefit of the tax savings.

 

[Douglas the Intrepid]

The big factor for me:

I always leave Walmart in a bad mood, be if from their workers, their clientle or setup.

I will gladly pay more for a positive shopping experience. Target is MUCH more pleasant to visit in my opinion.

 

[30A Skunkape]

The big factor for me:

I always leave Walmart in a bad mood, be if from their workers, their clientle or setup.

I will gladly pay more for a positive shopping experience. Target is MUCH more pleasant to visit in my opinion.

While I don't look to any big box store to provide exceptional service, I must say that the staff at the Destin Wal-Mart really seem to be a cut above most I have been to. Target is usually pretty good, too.

 

[Teresa]

Tom Thumbs and the like thrive in the shadows of Wal-Marts all up and down HWY 98. Sally's is a bar! For the Health of it is in no danger unless their very dedicated clientele leave them due to Wal-Mart selling goods and services that FTHOI does (and they are not going to).

you have good points, but every single one of these places sell many items that people will be able to pick up at Walmart, including organic "green" foods from lord knows where, supplements, flax seed, fried chicken & wine (sold by Sally's), etc etc etc . so, when you go into Walmart, you can conveniently do all your shopping there and not have to make any other stops at those small little local stores. how gauche.

is it elitist to not welcome walmart into SoWal? or is it that people are aware of the many levels of influence Walmart has had on our local and national economy and social culture? or is it just a big huge desire on behalf of some to preserve the little town - to preserve its environment as well as its unique character? yes, most people want a walmart, and that's fine. but, maybe they should stop and consider, just for one moment, what will follow for years to come. if they don't mind, then maybe they can at least understand just a little the reasons that some do. I certainly understand the reasons people welcome such a big change - convenience. We have so many more options today than we did just 10 years ago as far as grocery and other shopping. so, making the jump to Walmart isn't really that huge, but what follows will be.

 

[Here4Good]

I've seen lots of outdated anti-Walmart propaganda floating around here lately. I will probably not shop there much, but think it's important to point out that they are committed to energy saving practices and using renewable energy, and that because they are so freakin' huge, they can make a real difference in the marketplace. When the largest single consumer of electricity in the US wants solar panels, it matters.

11 Ways That Walmart Is Changing Retail -- for Good | Slideshows

 

[Kurt]

I thought Walmart made their suppliers have to move overseas in order to cut costs to provide goods at lower prices Walmart dictates so Walmart could be even more profitable. Capitalism run amok?

While I won't argue the evolution of global markets and capitalism, this practice seems like it hurts every person and business in America, whether they are in direct competition for retail dollars or not.

You can argue that the common man is saving money as a result of shopping at Walmart (which is debatable), but is he better off? Is our country?

If you watch this video and still want to defend Walmart, then I think you're just trolling.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=frol02p71&continuous=1