The rule of any goods or service seller
is this: if you grow too fast and gain too much notoriety (and power), your opponents start
looking at every minuscule move you make and taking you to task on everything. It's called checks and
balances and it's accelerated as you become more famous. Ask Microsoft about this, as I'm sure they know (and
so does MSFT's pocketbook). Well,
that said, have you ever heard of Wal-Mart Watch? This is the MoveOn.org
equivalent to the retail political left. Checks and balances are always good things, as everyone is kept on their toes.
It's generally disastrous for people and entities to go unchecked. Ask a historian about this...Wal-Mart Watch and Sprawl-Busters (another watchdog website/blog) have teamed up to give Wal-Mart opponents one centralized place for fighting strategies, lawyer contacts and complete archives of information on any and all moves on the part of our friends from Bentonville. In other words, here's yet another perfect example of the web being used to communicate across boundaries to rally troops against a cause. My thinking is that Wal-Mart, which seemingly dodges these things, needs to enhance its PR image quite a bit and start standing up for itself using a pretty back-boned defensive position. If you remain quiet, your enemies can dig you out of your hole and, by public perception, you can be found guilty by non-admission.
So, Wal-Mart -- my advice is this: wake up, stand up and respond to the major accusations that are constantly lobbed at
you. There's nothing that will gain respect faster than by speaking up, even it millions still disagree with you.
Aretha Franklin said it best: R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me. So, Wal-Mart -- how are you going
to respond to your #1 public enemy?
[image credit: www.bbc.co.uk]
[Disclaimer: I'm a holder of MSFT shares as of 5-3-06]
[image credit: www.bbc.co.uk]
[Disclaimer: I'm a holder of MSFT shares as of 5-3-06]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-03-2006 @ 4:34PM
Frank Tizzano said...
Wal-Mart needs to have a PR Company to speads the word on Tv, The Net, Radio and the newspaper of all the good things Wal-Mart does. They should talk about the contributions to charity, that they provide employment to over a millon people. They pay more property taxes then any other company. The effect they have on keeping inflation down. All the mom and pop business that start up around Wal-Mart Stores. Etc. The unions are only interested in getting their hands on the employees dues. Look at what their demands have done to the auto and airline industry. Are those companies employees better off now.
5-03-2006 @ 5:17PM
Penny said...
Wal-Mart does have good prices, and they do provide a lot for the communities. But, they also deny employees insurance by keeping their hours below 35. Also, the Wal-Mart I shop at, is only because they are the best price in town, but as far as customer service forget it.! Their policys change whenever it suits the manager and the shelves are hardly ever stocked. I know this isn't all walmarts, but mine and other complaints don't get any response.
5-03-2006 @ 8:22PM
Cynthia B said...
There are always two sides two every story, Wal-Mart does do alot for the community and I agree that Unions only want dues from the company that employs the most workers in the world. The executive's at Wal-Mart aren't much better, going in getting as much as they can and getting out. Since Mr.Walton the founder of the company has past, look at how many times the main man at Wal-Mart has changed. No one really cares about the Wal-Mart employees Look at how the customers treat them and you wonder why you have poor customer service, they run away from the abuse from both sides the managers and the customers look in a back Isle you might find a blue vest trying not to be noticed. Next time you shop at a Wal-Mart remember the floor associate only is trying to earn that $200 dollars a week to take home nothing more. They have nothing to do with any thing you read in the news thats bad or good about Wal-Mart.