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Weird-Mart: Tales of the Bizarre from the Walmart Aisles
The story of former Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) employee Bruce Gabbard just keeps getting weirder. It started with his being fired for, in a display of unrestrained enthusiasm for his employer, tapping phone conversations between reports and the company's executive. Then it turned out he was part of a top-secret Wal-Mart security team involved in all kinds of questionable activity. Now, Wal-Mart is suing him for leaking information to the press about the company's top secret plan to increase its stock price. Spooky. Who needs Casino Royale when you have Wal-Mart?
The secret plan, known as "Project Red" (I swear I'm not making this up.), involves a possible spin-off of Sam's Club. First of all, the possibility of spinning-off Sam's Club is hardly secretive enough to deserve a name as corny as "Project Red." There has been speculation about that for years. Wal-Mart officials refused to comment on specifics, saying that they are always exploring possible alternatives because "that's good governance."
The problem, at least on a public relations front, is that Wal-Mart just looks creepy. Project Red? That just sounds like they're up to no good. While the company's battle with Mr. Gabbard continues to get more adversarial, Gabbard may have offered Wal-Mart the best piece of advice they've received in awhile: He told the Wall Street Journal that what the company really needed to do was return to Sam Walton's ideals of "customer service and respect for the individual."
Perhaps the company should rehire him as an adviser, as he appears to have figured out something Lee Scott can't seem to grasp.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-10-2007 @ 7:57PM
Mike said...
Nothing new. When my old employer US Airways planned it's merger with United in 2000 the plan was codenamed, "Operation Yellowjacket".
Part of corporate strategy is finding ways to hide your plans before they are ready to become public. Nothing will put a stop to a strategic move faster than it showing up in USA Today and announcing itself to your competitors.
4-13-2007 @ 11:46AM
Linda said...
Wal-Mart is now so associate unfriendly it's scary. No more full time hires, only part time. There are only 4 shifts to fill, no questions asked. Too bad that it disrupts your family life and sends you in a tail spin scrambling for day/night care you can't afford. Can't hire college students because shift times are not compatible. One associate is going from a 6:00a to 3:00 shift to 2p-11. Effective in a few weeks, and no questions asked. The answer from personnel are that Wal mart does not care. If our company doesn't care, why should we???
No more incentives left, no more raises. Too bad some have wasted 20 years and more on a company that quit caring. You can guarantee that current associates will be looking for other work elsewhere, and part timers will not care about the Company or Sam's values. Too bad for the customers.