Wal-mart and co-optation in DC

Bizarro by Dan Piraro, 5/8/2006.

Walmart is funding advertising programs for some small businesses in Ward 5 (and maybe elsewhere in the city). To my way of thinking, it won't have much impact, because the "problem" faced by the typical Ward 5 business (besides lack of population) is a substandard offer (price, value, quality, service). Advertising isn't the input that's required.

Ad for the Bladensburg Road IHOP, paid for by Walmart, and misspells the town name of Brentwood.

This was trumpeted at last weekend's Ward 5 Economic Summit.

Walmart is also funding a program by the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to assist business development in DC.

I hope that the program will be able to be more like Jesse Unruh, and not the typical kind of DC organization that is so grateful for $ that it doesn't focus on the real issues. (For more on Jesse Unruh, see this book review: The Thicket at State Legislatures: New Biography of Jesse Unruh.)

For past blog entries on Walmart, see first:

-- Jumping in bed with the devil--it's hot, but will you survive the heat? (4/5/2006). This entry explains how Wal-mart's business model is oriented towards getting 100% of the business for a customer, not leaving anything for other businesses. This is counter to traditional grocery stores or department stores, which were anchors for business districts, and complementary to the development and success of other types of business.

After that, you can read these pieces from 2004 from the Black Commentator, "Wal Mart and the Economic Destruction of Black Communities" and "Why Black Leaders are Stone Silent on Wal-Mart Abuses" by Earl Ofari Hutchinson.)

Then there are these other pieces from the blog:

-- Wal Mart: Always low prices (4/27/2007). This piece has links to many great articles from the traditional media.
-- Better that Wal Mart change its business model (1/12/2007). About this verysame program, but in Chicago.
-- Andy Young, Mel Gibson, maybe it's something about Los Angeles... (8/18/2006).
-- Big or Small, Wal Mart wants it all... (3/24/2006). About initiatives in organics and other lines of business. It doesn't cover the newest neighborhood market initiative to counter Tesco, and doesn't really get into their environmental initiatives. (Note: if 20,000 cars drive to a Walmart Super Center can it really be green?)
-- More hard hitting writing from the Black Commentator (2/19/2006). This links to a number of great pieces on the subject of Walmart and inner city issues.

Mother Goose & Grimm Comic Strip, 3/22/2006.


Image from Black Commentator.