Unions try to stop WalMart's global growth

lil dickie said: "Since they haven't been able to go after them in the US, unions are now trying to stop the spread of [url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/latimests/20050824/ts_latimes/unionsgoabroadinfightwithwalmart]WalMart overseas[/url]. The thing called WalMart keeps on growing."

Darren said: "european unions are plenty tough...walmart will eventually have to raise wages"

chahinemm said: "they will compensate in countries where the unions are week and even out the global cost of wages. chahine"

alhamid said: "that is it in the long run. at some point the cheap labor offsets the expensive labor. if they hedge currencies (which they do) they have no problems whatsoever"

chahinemm said: "walmart is entering the french market and will hammer the fairly tough market,,,, well always opens some strong investment opportunity for traders ;) chahine"

AlfredSokol said: "You need to short the companies most affected by WalMart coming into a new territory. Probably the supermarkets are the biggest targets."

Heather said: "Wal Mart doesn't want to stop. I think that they are a double edged sword. Even though they offer discounts on all sorts of products (groceries, car care, clothing..) it hurts the smaller retailers that are in close proximity. They don't pay very well, either. As long as they can continue to do commerce all over the world, I don't think they will be able to be stopped."

chahinemm said: "[QUOTE=AlfredSokol]You need to short the companies most affected by WalMart coming into a new territory. Probably the supermarkets are the biggest targets.[/QUOTE] for sure a good idea chahine"

HappyHarry said: "I've even seen the WalMart effect where I live. It's a hugely competitive retail area. When WalMart opens you see a great number of the locals go under in the next 24 months or so. Direct competitors go down immediatedly and smaller "anomaly" businesses fade after time."

chahinemm said: "i personally dont want to see the effect of it but i guess its the reality of the business world. chahine"

HappyHarry said: "There's no doubt it is. With [B]$300,000,000,000.00[/B] in annual sales, everyone has to deal with WalMart."

Heather said: "[QUOTE=HappyHarry]I've even seen the WalMart effect where I live. It's a hugely competitive retail area. When WalMart opens you see a great number of the locals go under in the next 24 months or so. Direct competitors go down immediatedly and smaller "anomaly" businesses fade after time.[/QUOTE] There is always swift competition. There is a brand new Target (almost ready to open) directly across the street from the Wal-Mart in my town. They might be able to get a nice competitive edge because they are brand new (The Wal-Mart is sort of old and crappy) and you can also SEE the Target store from the street. (Wal-Mart is located behind a 20 story high rise apartment building and can't really be seen from the road) I'm sure this will directly affect Wal-Mart by having a direct competitor right here in my town."

trickynick said: "For some reason, the local government in my area puts up barriers to entry for Wal-Mart (they cite traffic concerns) and as consequence there are none around here. I personally don't see what the big deal is and am puzzled by the fact that they seem not to have a problem with Target being here (there are two of those nearby)."

xAnDienx said: "haha I think that's funny.."

Darren said: "[QUOTE=trickynick]For some reason, the local government in my area puts up barriers to entry for Wal-Mart (they cite traffic concerns) and as consequence there are none around here. I personally don't see what the big deal is and am puzzled by the fact that they seem not to have a problem with Target being here (there are two of those nearby).[/QUOTE] target may be a big contributor to local politics"

SanteeClause said: "Forget all the Crap about making Money ! the CHINESE are Nobodie's Friends ! it's thier Slave Labor that makes em ! Lord,how Dumb we are, to Alow a Nation like That, to Access Our Markets ! Just in Case you think i'm Bashing China,let me make this Perfectly Clear: I'M BASHING US, for Letting things like this Happen ! WalMart is Responsible for Exactly 10% of the Entire Domestic Sales Mkt ! at $250Billion,that's a Lot o TOYS,GAMES,CDs and Hundreds of Other things, which are Not made by an American Employee ! now,Add to That, the Totals of: JAPAN-KOREA-TAIWAN-OTHERS ! let me Help you: it's $1.5Trillion in Imports which=How many jobs ? Thank God that the RUSSIANS never caught On ! so the Next Time you Complain about a Lack of Jobs in the U.S. of A., Kick YerSelf in the A_ _, cause You're the one's Buying the Stuff ! SanteeClause"

SHIFTY101EASY said: "survival of the fittest....small stores are going down the tube...its sad really...but its just how nature works i guess....i guess its an investment oprrotunity to capitalize off the growth of walmart and demise of your famlies shop..."

HappyHarry said: "The retail environment seems highly hostile these days. I live near a very active retail area and the small, independent operators are basically all going out in order. Even businesses that survived for 70 years can't make it anymore. Stores that sell high priced items like furniture and pianos are all but dead. It seems like only food store locations can make it, and even then it's not guaranteed."

thezster said: "We all have sympathy for the small retail business owner... "It's a shame XYZ can't stay in business" as we walk into the local Wal Mart. It's a pretty simple principle of "supply and demand"... We demand it.. (lower prices) - and Wal-Mart supplies it. My wife and I decided to "boycott" Wal - Mart. Then last week, our baby sitter finagled a "free membership" to Sam's for us. After perusing their offerings... I find it difficult to buy a plasma TV at my local "homeowned vendor" for $3200... when I can purchase the same unit at Sam's for $2600. Continue the boycott????? Yeah,, until it hits me in the wallet! I'm as guilty as the next guy!"

HappyHarry said: "There's no question about it. And WalMart rightly knows this. Of course low prices on commodities matter to consumers. They have an unbelievable supply chain and they are just crushing entire sectors of industry. I'm not really crying for the little guy either. Many of these furniture stores screwed people happily for years by carrying their own accounts or hosing them on lay away. Let's face it, you need to be a remarkably gifted business right now to operate in retail effectively. I don't see WalMart slowing down just yet. They have around 80 stores in China now, with much more room to grow."

Praetorian said: "I think outsourcing is bad, period. It'd be a lot better for the economy if companies kept their business in the US. Sure, we may pay a bit extra for a shirt at first, but our economy would be better and our dollars would be worth more so it would work itself out."

HappyHarry said: "[QUOTE=Praetorian]I think outsourcing is bad, period. It'd be a lot better for the economy if companies kept their business in the US. Sure, we may pay a bit extra for a shirt at first, but our economy would be better and our dollars would be worth more so it would work itself out.[/QUOTE] So you don't think of the economy as global? If we buy supplies from other countries, they have more money to buy from us."