Wal-mart and Wreaths Across America

photo: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org

by Gary Kennedy

The history of Wal-Mart, which is now a super chain, began in 1950. Sam Walton purchased a small store from Luther E. Harrison, in Bentonville, Arkansas, calling it Walton’s (5&10) five and dime. Some of we oldtimers recall the term five and dime. Later in 1962, the Wal-Mart chain proper was formed. It started with only one store in Bentonville, Arkansas. It made its first store outside Arkansas in 1968. By 1980 they had stores in the entire southern USA. Ultimately, there were stores in every state of the USA plus its first store in Canada by 1995. The growth was fueled by mostly new store construction. Eventually, Mohr-value and Kuhn’s Big K were acquired increasing rapid growth.

Sam introduced Sam’s Club warehouse store in 1983 and its first super stores in 1988. As you can see the marketing was strategically planned almost flawlessly. By the second decade of the 21st century the chain had become a mega giant with over 11,000 stores in 27 different countries. Sam came from very poor/humble beginnings but was top notch in high school and was able to work his way through college, ROTC. Eventually, he achieved the rank of captain. The first true Wal-Mart was started in July 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. It was designed to sell only American products, as long as he could find American products being produced within a given area that could supply his entire chain, so as to beat down foreign competition.

In my opinion, Sam was a retail marketing genius. He inadvertently studied other retail chains and used the best of all in his growth plan, which obviously was a progressive one. He worked closely with a brother, James “Bud” Walton. Bud was a pilot during World War II thus both Bud and Sam took to the sky with Sam also acquiring a pilot’s license. A lot of their scouting was done aerially.

I have degrees in both retail management as well as marketing so I can see the very bountiful path Sam and Bud traveled. I wish I could have traveled it with them. Actually, there was a time that I had a very deep dislike for the Waltons because I was looking through the eyes of Zayre, Ames, Sears, K-Mart, as well. However, now that I have the mature version of this family and what they achieved and how they did it, I find it an awesome adventure in business. A man born in the boonies of Oklahoma in 1918, graduate of University of Missouri, founder of Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club, husband and father of four and much more. Sam started as a farmer, then Mortgage Acquisitions with (Met Life Ins). They drifted for many years. Sam became the youngest Eagle Scout in the state’s history. In adult life Sam became a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from Boy Scouts of America. He worked day and night to help his family. In David H. Hickman High School he was voted “Most Versatile Boy”. Later he attended University of Missouri as an ROTC cadet. Even then he worked odd jobs to help him and his family. Who could ask for a better son?

Sam also served as president of Burall Bible Class, a collection of religious young folks. He graduated from college in 1940 with a BS degree in Economics. He learned at an early age it was much more blessed to give than receive. Wonderful people like the Waltons should never be demeaned by arrogant politicians. We don’t judge a book by its cover. The content is where the value lies.

Sam joined the military, (Army) achieving the rank of captain in military intelligence. How could you not be proud and impressed with a young man such as this? Years ago there were many of us that disliked him because in becoming successful he all but eliminated the middle class of business. Small business would say, “How can you compete and stay in business with this caliber of adversity? Many small businesses fall by the way side as the dynamics of Sam’s approach. He bought and sold right. He negotiated a good purchase price and narrowed the margin when it came to resolve. Location was the key. Do business when, where with the correct mark-up for the products he purchased. He also kept his warehousing handy to the point of sale. His was a common sense strategy. His employees grew with him. Hard work and loyalty were rewarded with income and personal growth. So yes, I am one of them Wal-Mart shoppers and I guess we all know where that philosophy grew from. I am loyal to the entire concept and story.

The reason for this article hasn’t even been addressed yet. I am a 100 percent disabled American veteran and very proud, as Sam Walton was, to have served my country as Sam did. We both were Army. He served in intelligence and I in a medical specialty. Sam was a model person and soldier as well as a great example of a humanitarian. Through the years he and his family have supported our troops in one way or another.

This year I was honored to be part of Wreaths Across America. My wife Julie and I joined a convoy of giant Wal-Mart tractor trailers whose mission was to give and transport one million wreaths for the graves of one million of America’s finest examples of the love for this country. The convoy was to travel from here to Arlington Cemetery, in Washington, DC. The project, as I am told, is sponsored by the Worchester family. This has been going on since 1992. Morrill and Karen Worchester are a 501C-3 organization now. The wreaths are made in the Harringtom – Columbia Falls area and are the donations of individuals and organization across the country. There are 2.4 million wreaths given from Maine to Guam and every military grave in between. Harrington receives 250,000 wreaths. There is a percentage of value of the wreaths that goes to the charities of the volunteers. God Bless and be with you all through this very trying holiday. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.