Wal-Mart's Sustainability Index

Wal-Mart uses its size to squeeze suppliers and definitely uses shelf space as leverage. For example, a company for which I used to work was "asked" to develop a specific, exclusive-to-Wal-Mart packaging -- or it wouldn't get shelf space. Our CEO grumbled about it but he wasn't about to walk away from Wal-Mart over the issue. While I suppose this sort of stuff can come under the heading of pushing for lower price points, (most) companies don't/can't say "no" to Wal-Mart because of its size.

 

Off hand, I can't think of a supplier that doesn't need Wal-Mart more than Wal-Mart needs the supplier. Even a company the size of Proctor & Gamble, with all of its brands, needs to play ball on programs like this. Plus, once a sufficient number of companies get on board, it becomes untenable from a PR standpoint for a company to hold out.

But, as I said before, this program is not necessarily a bad thing and could be a good thing (if the information is verified independently) and consumers aren't being duped. More information in consumers' hands (recent calorie charts in restaurants is a good example) is invariably a positive development.

 

Won't the two universities involved be doing the auditing of the info?

 

Wal-Mart forces all their suppliers to outsource production to the coolie sweatshops in China anyway.

Window dressing.

 

Oh, they will certainly come up with “data.” It won’t even be remotely truthful, though. You should see some of the labels of products I’ve picked up. The Nutrition Facts should come with a warning that says, “Not at all factual.”

 

So, basically, this is really just another bogus p.r. initiative to add some warm-and-fuzzy to a company with a really bad image among the demographic to which such a program might initially sound appealing. I'm shocked.

 

I picked P&G as an example because a) it's the only consumer product company I could think of off-hand that would come close to having sufficient leverage to say "no," and b) because I know it routinely complies with Wal-Mart "requests," including, I believe, this one. Obviously, however, there's a lot more give and take in the relationship with P&G than a little one-product outfit but Wal-mart typically gets its way on this sort of thing.

On your second point, I don't think this type of initiative, just because it was begun by Wal-Mart, would be limited to Wal-Mart. If your company is going to the trouble of complying with this program, why wouldn't you carry that program over to all of your retail packaging in all lines of distribution?

And if/when the time comes that consumers expect this type of information, you need to comply. Even if it is unverified window-dressing for p.r. purposes, there's a growing number of environmentally motivated consumers. You need to look no further than the auto industry to make that determination.

 

I can see Wal-Mart trying really, really hard to get away from the 350-pounds Bertha walking at 1.5 MPH up and down the aisles, leaning on the cart as she looks at the price of another 33-ounce canister of Crisco.

Yet this concern for the environment? It's hypocritical to me.

Environmental impact? How about if Wal-Mart first cleans up their damn parking lots and gets the stinking and blowing trash out of them before they worry about saving the global environment? (Yes, I do still shop there but I find myself probably shopping at Target more often than Wal-Mart now)

In every city I've lived in or every place I've visited, when I go into a Wal-Mart, I leave usually feeling worse than when I got there -- it was rarely that way when I was a teenager or in my 20s. Yet, maybe now as a parent trying to raise strong children, I just see people struggling but, worse, people who are struggling but probably won't have the ability to do anything about it.

(In other words, don't go to Wal-Mart when the Heat Index is 105 or above. You'll see folds of skin you never thought you would see and tattoos in places you didn't know existed).

And once I've loaded up my cart with what I need, then I have to go play the Wal-Mart Checkout Game. Balance the length of the line with doing a quick study of the people ahead of me. Are they likely to have their check denied or debit card denied -- which will lead to the flashing "you're screwed" light above the cashier as the line comes to a screeching halt. They always have greeters at every door but rarely have enough cashiers -- heck, even the Self Checkouts have lines because the WM I usually frequent only has 2 of 6 of them open at once. What *&^%ing sense is that?!?

Totally different feeling from when I walk into a Target. I see workers in red shirts who know (and even care) where a product is located if I can't find it. Lines at checkout are rarely a problem.

Also, MILFs shop at Target. I guess I'd rather pay 10% more and have better 'scenery' -- when I leave, I feel energized. When I leave a Wal-Mart, I just want to go home and take a nap...

(Okay, thread hijack over... won't happen again)...