Going Green - Will Labels Help?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Stuck on July 17, 2009 at 11:41pm

No. Wal-Mart hired a former Clinton staffer about two years ago to be help them advertise more consumer friendly. This Clinton staffer has been directing them into more "Green" advertising.

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Permalink Reply by Duke Snyder on July 18, 2009 at 10:27am

Whatever your reasons for liking or disliking WalMart, and mine are very much overall negative, the real meat of this article is much more impacting than even the branding of a hallmark name such as WalMart. Take the time to read the article completely and you shall see a very good example of how businesses can affect changes in our lifestyle through such bold moves in attaching their brand name to any cause which largely remains somewhat if not highly controversial in the minds of their base customers.
Having a gut-level preference for supporting locally owned/operated business means I may enter a WalMart twice yearly if at all but but fairness within my thought process demands recognizing WalMart showing, at least in this one instance, a corporate awareness extending beyond merely it's bottom line.
For every action there is a reaction and although it may well be more subliminal than overt I shall await the public response.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Stuck on July 18, 2009 at 8:32pm

Their base consumer worries about one thing: Pricing. Wal-Mart is stickly doing this to counter act the "I shop locally" crowd and I must then lecture everyone of how Wal-Mart is bad.

You go ahead shop locally. I shop WalMart and Sam's because it saves me money.

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Permalink Reply by Sage McGreen on July 19, 2009 at 11:04am

Dollar General Stores offer low price points and compete well with sundries. These outlets offer a more affordable business franchise opportunity than a big box. DGS doesn't have slick marketing strategies like Walmart, and I consider them a lesser of two evils.

What if you found a beautiful warm crafty personality that made homemade soaps and shampoos?

Farmers markets & speciality stores & Etsy has gazillions of them. When I supplement our restocking list with handcrafted items it enriches our everyday life. Really it does, and then we act different because we feel different.

That's what all those Brand names sell you anyway - a feeling.


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Permalink Reply by Sage McGreen on July 19, 2009 at 2:31pm

When I say "buy local" I'm taking a stance against outsourcing manufacturing jobs. Maybe I should say Buy American. I can work on that.

American manufacturers outsource to compete in big box retailers such as walmart. The push to get into walmart unravels American jobs. This plan for profit is a pattern that doesn't really work. Yes, outsourcing works on spreadsheets especially for profit margins, but when you raise your head up after you stop looking at the data; you've got a really big mess.

I've also witnessed how walmart treats their human capital. Management at all levels can be replaced quarterly if sales shrink. Is that a good thing? In less than 2 years, Midwest regional management positions for electronics changed 5 times. That's always been evident in retail, but the turn over is getting worse. Retail service contracts continue to decrease; 5 years, 3 years, 2 years and now sometimes quarterly. Where is the career longevity in that? So, I totally disagree that a great success story means destroying the competition. It also destroys people.

Below is an example of what I'm talking about, sarcasm is my friend and so are you. http://sendables.jibjab.com/originals/big_box_mart

Super walmart at birth had mostly American made products, now it's the opposite. What happened? Bigger isn't better. We don't want bigger government, why should we want bigger business? Some aspects of our transition into a global economy really hurt.

Maybe, I'm grieving over a way of life that is dying. Show me some compassion.

You and I are basically saying the same things, most of the time. But, because of this global transition, a paradigm shift makes us feel divided. We think we have opposing views, when really we don't. I know your heart is centered on family, friends and the place that you love. So is mine.

My comments about branding & feelings & restocking are about how to shop. Okay, I admit guys don't shop the way gals shop and you're such a GUY! LOL

Chris thanks for your comments. I hope you aren't offended by the name GUY.

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Permalink Reply by Sage McGreen on July 19, 2009 at 5:06pm

You win.

I run away (backwards so you can't see my butt) from any and all weight debates, er, um, discussions.

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Permalink Reply by Sage McGreen on July 18, 2009 at 1:46pm

I think it's a part of a big magic trick. You know, the kind of magic where something disappears, toxic sludge maybe? Ratings are effective, but in this case I think it's to manipulate the market.

Hopefully consumer behaviors will change, we buy more local and really think about our needs and desires.
Stop impulse buying and think about shopping differently. Purchase items from a restocking or a replenishment list. Shopping should restock what we need not quench a desire to feel better. We do have cultural traditions that include gift giving, the best gifts are homemade. Yes, a bit old fashion but more tasteful than a brookstone personal ineed lumbar massager in a sleek techno color. Why would I want anyone else gifting my lumbar? ewwww

On this issue, I doubt if walmart or any other big box retailer has our best interests in mind.


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Permalink Reply by Michael R. on July 18, 2009 at 4:22pm

It would be nice if Wal Mart had more than two lanes open at peak hours. It would also be nice if they paid their workers a better wage.

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Permalink Reply by Kirk Booher on July 19, 2009 at 9:47pm

Yes. I applaud their actions.

A bonus is that these lables will keep them safe form a takeover from the new socialist greenies (not referring to the enviromental green people, but the ones taking our hard earned green dollars).

People vote with their dollars. Don't like W? (Walmart, not George W) Buy elsewhere.

If the employees dont like it there, they can go elsewhere (if that is still allowed). If they can do better, let them start their own store...but soon the taxes and regulations will be so high, the will be unlikely. Or they can stay home and enjoy the new heath benefits Obama is attempting to deliver.

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