Quote:
Originally posted by ktsnake
Yes, 30 supermarkets have closed. However, the ones that remain are of MUCH higher quality than before the superstore concept. It has also forced other chains to diversify. There are places besides Wal-Mart where they have smaller selection, smaller stores, lower overhead and therefore, cheaper stuff. We have more variety of food available at a lower price. I think it's a decent tradeoff.
The types of businesses that open around Wal-Marts off the top of my head have included bank branches, restaurants, fast food places, clothing stores, ALL of which provide jobs to people. Many of which are not just chains, but franchises which are really a type of small business.
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If you think it's a decent tradeoff I can't argue with that. OC isn't my community. But Walmart as a superstore doesn't always guarantee a superior quality in product.
The variety of food might be a decent tradeoff as of now but I don't see that in the future. You have other grocery chains dealing with the same suppliers that supply Walmart. Walmart demands the lowest prices from their suppliers and in turn find it very hard to sell at higher prices to other vendors because the consumers could simply go to Walmart and pay a lower price. I dunno though, there aren't even 30 grocery stores in the city I'm from and it's not all that little...
A franchise really isn't a type of small business though so I can't agree with you there. A person owns the franchise (maybe, many times franchised stores are actually block owned by other corporations) but even if a single individual owns one they still get marketing, advertising and the recognition of the name. When you franchise you pay for the name and the recognition really.
Again, I don't disagree that many of the larger corps that could open around a Walmart offer jobs to people. Like I've stated twice, it has nothing to do with the small business debate. Walmart isn't good for small business...now I can't say the same for large business.
Either way this debate is pointless now so I say we just agree to disagree....