Wal-Mart Reveals Patriotic Plan to Pump up Economy

Posted by in Retail


Wal-Mart is constantly under scrutiny. Whether it’s about workers rights, imported good or the effect big box stores have on mom-and-pop shops in the current economy, there’s always something to be said about Wal-Mart and typically it is not very nice. Wal-Mart is trying to change that perception and prove they are proud to be an American company. Bill Simon, president and CEO, recently announced Wal-Mart’s plans to give the home team the advantage with domestically made merchandise and a new hiring program for veterans. “At the heart of our national political conversation today is one issue: creating jobs to grow the economy,” said Simon. “[We] are making a strong commitment to move this forward.” While most of the clamor generated by Simon’s statement has been positive, some people are still skeptical that the plan is purely a promotional ploy.

 

The first step in Wal-Mart’s plan is to increase the American-made products that they purchase and offer to customers. During the next decade Wal-Mart intends to promote their “Buy American” campaign by spending $50 billion on products that would usually be imported--like sporting goods, storage products, games, accessories, apparel, textiles, furniture and high-end appliances. Currently, they claim two-thirds of the goods they sell are sourced in the United States. Domestically produced products like groceries, health and beauty products, household goods like paper towels, and pet supplies make up 55 percent of U.S. sales.

 

The second phase in Wal-Mart’s patriotic push is to recruit job candidates who have recently left the military. They intend to hire 100,000 veterans in the next five years. While not all veterans are interested in retail work, any honorably discharged veteran has a job waiting for them at Wal-Mart as long as they apply within the first 12 months off active duty. “Hiring a veteran can be one of the best business decisions you make,” said Simon, a Navy veteran himself. “Veterans have a record of performance under pressure. They’re quick learners and team players. They are leaders with discipline, training, and a passion for service. There is a seriousness and sense of purpose that the military instills, and we need it today more than ever.”

 

These are noble steps in the right direction. However, critics feel Wal-Mart is just scratching the surface when it comes to what’s really wrong with their current practices and that there are other effective ways Wal-Mart could make a meaningful difference immediately. They suggest that paying better wages and offering workers more regular hours would result in a bigger impact for individuals and the economy overall. Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, was quoted saying, "Retailers like Wal-Mart could provide the nation with a much needed economic boost by paying higher wages and providing stable scheduling - while still remaining profitable and continuing to offer low prices. By part-timing their workforce, they're hurting both workers and our economy by fueling underemployment."

 

Whatever the motives, everyone watching the plan unfold hopes for the best. If all goes well other retailers may be inspired to follow suit. “Imagine what retail could do together,” said Simon. “We could leave an incredible legacy as an industry. We can be the ones who step up for our heroes. And we can do this now.”

 

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos

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  • Melissa Kennedy
    Melissa Kennedy
    This is really a great debate. Thanks, Heather for bringing this issue to our attention. If retailers like Wal Mart increased the number of products they buy from American manufacturers, there might actually be some hope for the factory workers who are in constant fear of losing their jobs and being forced to take low paying jobs at places like Wal Mart.
  • Melissa S
    Melissa S
    We as Americans should applaud Walmart for their efforts to give us quality merchandise made in the good old U.S.A.! I commend Simon for wanting to support veterans and pay it forward by hiring them!  
  • Dexter B
    Dexter B
    Their solution is like telling a gun shot victim that you are going to fill the wound with peanut butter to stop the bleeding...might work but won't solve the root concern
  • Heather Fairchild
    Heather Fairchild
    Thanks for the insight! It will definitely be interesting to see how they follow through on the proposed plan.
  •  Sheila R
    Sheila R
    After 18 yrs.I was fired by walmart,two weeks before Christmas 2012.The reason was "inability to preform job."Every yearly evaluation I was rated 'Exceeds Expectations.' In the 6 wks.since then,5 more long-term,full timers have been fired.My management team would add to your tasks,as the day went on,rather than allow you to finish before going to the next thing.It was a no-win situation daily!Mr. Simon should get out from behind his desk & go into stores to speak w/ hourly Associates.He would find that these loyal workers are hurrassed,intimated,&abused.But don't approach them in view of management because they fear retailiation & will remain silent.This is a small town where jobs are few,so better to work in fear than have no work at all !It's no secret that they are replacing full timers w/ part timers.Iam all for hiring a vet,from Any era,but it looks as though to Do that,their plan is to get rid of people like me to make room for them!Doesn't sound like an honorable plan to me..sounds like a ploy to improve their image.I just looked thru my closet & every item I purchased @ walmart was made Outside of the U.S.A.They say 2/3 rds of what they sell is American?Not by My calculations.For a retailer,you'd think they would understand simple math.And for the record,four of my 18 years I spent as an Asst.Manager(salaried).I know both sides of how they operate.I 'stepped down'because I could no longer be a part of their shoddy treatment of hourlys.And now,I too am a victim.Daily,I receive calls/texts from Friends who still work there.They ask for advice.I tell them to 'document'everything & don't shop there.As sales slide,just maybe the Corporate management will come in to investigate why.But don't hold your breath...their busy sitting behind their big corporate desks,unaware of the Hell their work-force endures,to make Them more wealthy than they already are.Bill Simon should be Ashamed of himself for once again trying to mislead the general public.Mr.Simon..we're not as dumb as you'd like to think.
  • Billy P
    Billy P
    I am a veteran and would appreciate a local wal-mart job. I have been unsuccesful in submitting an application. Offering assistance for submitting applications at local facilities would be a great service.  
  • Eric k
    Eric k
    Sounds like a good thing.  I am an unemployed veteran,(retired 15 years), only time will tell if "WallyWorld" will live up to what they say,  I don't see it happening.  With 3 new Walmart stores opening up in my area I have yet to be called for an interview for any job!!!!!!!
  • JOHN W
    JOHN W
    Hip Hip Horay for Walmart!  Atta company!!  keep America (and Walmart growing strong
  • Lisa W
    Lisa W
    i have rarely met a happy Wal-mart empoyee. Most complain about the 2 major points in the article; wages and hours. While "WallyWorld" is not the only establishment "...part-timing their workforce..." they are one of the largest employers in retail and they set precedence with their practices. Another bad idea is those 'self checkout lines' One employee watches 4 registers instead of having 4 people there (and WallyWorld never has enough lines open as it is!) plus you're doing work for FREE! Why is it people do not understand that? I refuse to use those and every time I walk past I say, loudly, :You're taking jobs away by doing it yourself!" which makes my husband mad, but hey, he'll get over it.
  • Hung T
    Hung T
    Dear Wal- Mart hiring officersI would like you open the hiring not only for veteran but for the old people. The Wal-Mart is a place for all people not for veteran only. the old people need job too.Especially for the economy recession like this. I am (60 yrs old ) need a job too.Thanks of listening
  • Alexis B
    Alexis B
    Glad to hear it.  Being an American co. they should have been doing this all along!  But it's a start.  Nice to hear they are giving recent veterans a priority status, but all of us who served should be considered for positions we apply for and at least given an interview to see if we qualify or not for said position.  I passed your Assessment Test, applied for jobs I qualify for with a high degree of ability to do the job and still do not hear back from H.R. Wal Mart.  So, we Americans want to work, you Wal Mart are one of the largest employers, Employ Us!
  • Kashif R
    Kashif R
    100,000 veterans don't want minimum wage jobs. Maybe Walmart could pay a living wage to help improve the economy.
  • Suzanne D
    Suzanne D
    Great if they will really come through for all!!!
  • Richard W
    Richard W
    Would like to see this apply to ALL Veterans not just the recently discharged Veterans.US Navy Veteran 1982-1988
  • Jeffery D. G
    Jeffery D. G
    What about veterans who were discharged more than 12 months ago? Sounds like discrimination to me.
  • HERB A
    HERB A
    HAVING WORKED FOR WALMART I CAN NOT SEE ANY VET STAYING ON THE JOB. TEAM WORK IS NOT A PART OF WALMARTS MANAGAEMENT PLAN. USE AND ABUSE IS THEIR METHOD. PAY AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE AND WORK THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THEY WILL NEVER BUY AMERICAN UNLESS THE COMPANIES GIVE THEIR PRODUCT AWAY TO THEN SO THEY CAN MAINTAIN THE MEGA BILLIONS OF PROFIT THEY MAKE EVERY YEAR. WALMART WILL NEVER CHANGE ITS WAY UNLESS PEOPLE STOP SHOPPING IN THEIR STORES- BUT PEOPLE TODAY ARE CONCERNED WITH COST AND NOT QUALITY AND GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE. WALMART REPRESENTS ALL THAT IS WRONG BECAUSE IT USES THIS FACT TO MAKE BILLIONS FROM THAT SECTION OF THE COUNTRY THAT CAN NOT AFFORD AMERICAN MADE BECAUSE THEY WORK FOR WALMART AND COMPANIES LIKE THEM.
  • James C
    James C
    I live in a small town where textile products were made for Wal Mart and the people that worked in those plants also shopped at Wal Mart and it makes me SICK to go in a see a product that we made that Wal Mart  sells that if we had made would have been  sent back because the poor-quality  and we lost over 2,000 jobs and since then most of the plants have been tore down But we need our jobs for our children. So if Wal Mart is going to help they need to start now !
  • Kathie J
    Kathie J
    While I think that selling American made is a very important and significant step to the survival of the U.S and hiring veterans is a great and noble gesture, most vets are trained for a specific career or joined the military for the education grants promised to them for joining the services. I live in a small town where the only store to shop at,even for food is Walmart. It is clear everytime you go in they need help and there are many people who need work in this town. Walmart needs to up its allowance for employees. If they are vets great, the more people working the better the economy ! So why wait ?
  • Ilene S
    Ilene S
    If this is followed thru, it will bring back Sam's original ideals for Walmart and that was American made products. I stopped doing most of my shopping here because  what I find is imported from countries.Once Walmart makes a stand a lot of brands will stop importing rather than loose retailers like Walmart. I would love to see vegetables from my own country!! Kudos for this effort.
  • Shane W
    Shane W
    It has often been said,  if everyone would buy American, we can put Americans to work.  Even though American made typically cost more due to higher labor costs, the cost of buying foreign goods manifests itself in the loss of jobs and, ultimately more people relying on the government for assistance.  This is not a silver bullet, but rather a step in the right direction.
  • cheryl k
    cheryl k
    Actions speak louder than words. As someone who has been in the fashion industry for over 20 years, specifically production/product development and has worked with Walmart, it's about time that we proudly bring "Made in the USA" into as much of our product as possible. There are just TOO MANY hard working, capable and dedicated Americans in desperate need of jobs and this is for sure a necessity in this country that was founded on opportunity for all.  
  • Thomas D
    Thomas D
    It's about time,tired of seeing every thing with a MADE IN CHINA STICKER.
  •  keith r
    keith r
    There should be room in their economic policy for seniors to be deployed in their middle management levels. Until this country takes stock of the enormous gravity of people 55 to 65 out of work the economic momentum that is expected will not materialize. That age group category is still supporting the aged and the young college students with diminshing opportunities to maintain that economic cost.
  • Kay H
    Kay H
    Higher pay for all employees,, all merchandise made in USA, lower prices, lower gas prices..pay 100 percent of employees insurance.. Full time for all employees,, get better customer input on stores..
  • Dennis C
    Dennis C
    What about older vets, I'm a Vietnam combat vet, semi retired, needing part time work.

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