The time has come
Hard to know what to write about when multiple topics hit the airwaves at the same time. But I think the winner today is WalMart. Received an email from a colleague concerning the low-class treatment WalMart seems to be handing out to its employees. Sent out a message on my personal blog asking whether others had knowledge of such behavior (a brand new WalMart store is opening about a mile from my office--literally around the corner from an existing Target store--and I am truly curious). Always like to check the factual stability of anything that bad-mouths a business (or a person) before I form any opinions.
One of the businesspeople I respect most, an economic development consultant in this area, replied to my blog post, indicating that yes, claims of employee abuse at WalMart are very believable..."This company has gotten too big for its britches..."
He makes the point that customers whose incomes are shriveling will buy wherever they can get the cheapest price and best value. But the reality is that in order to do that, WalMart places unrealistic demands on its suppliers --and makes it literally unprofitable to sell to them in many cases.
Here is the full text of the message I received--much of it taken from "Thieves in High Places" by James Hightower.
Looks like greed coming full circle. Corporations want more profits so they squeeze salaries; consumers must make do with less; advertisers continue to promote full-scale consumption; global competition enters and further depresses profits and salaries; heavy consumption is still encouraged in order to combat falling profits...and absolutely everyone ends up losing.
I can't help but think a little more honesty out of everybody could prevent the spiral from going quite so deeply. Blogs are the tools of honesty--blogging lies and misrepresentations would yield absolutely no results.
Fast Company, the hottest new business magazine on the scene, featured in its latest edition article after article on social responsibility by businesses, honesty, ethics. The point is, that kind of stuff is going to have to become the new stock in trade--because the old stuff simply doesn't work to anyone's benefit anymore.
One of the businesspeople I respect most, an economic development consultant in this area, replied to my blog post, indicating that yes, claims of employee abuse at WalMart are very believable..."This company has gotten too big for its britches..."
He makes the point that customers whose incomes are shriveling will buy wherever they can get the cheapest price and best value. But the reality is that in order to do that, WalMart places unrealistic demands on its suppliers --and makes it literally unprofitable to sell to them in many cases.
Here is the full text of the message I received--much of it taken from "Thieves in High Places" by James Hightower.
Looks like greed coming full circle. Corporations want more profits so they squeeze salaries; consumers must make do with less; advertisers continue to promote full-scale consumption; global competition enters and further depresses profits and salaries; heavy consumption is still encouraged in order to combat falling profits...and absolutely everyone ends up losing.
I can't help but think a little more honesty out of everybody could prevent the spiral from going quite so deeply. Blogs are the tools of honesty--blogging lies and misrepresentations would yield absolutely no results.
Fast Company, the hottest new business magazine on the scene, featured in its latest edition article after article on social responsibility by businesses, honesty, ethics. The point is, that kind of stuff is going to have to become the new stock in trade--because the old stuff simply doesn't work to anyone's benefit anymore.
posted by Barbara Payne at 7:52 PM
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