Start Date

7-1-2011 3:15 PM

End Date

7-1-2011 4:00 PM

Track

1. Track 1 – Formal Paper Presentation

Subject Area

Consumer Behavior

Faculty Member

Jingxue (Jessica) Yuan, Ph.D: jessica.yuan@ttu.edu

Abstract

The Impact of Wal-Mart on Community Outlook: A Study of Two Small Texas Towns

Abstract

“The sages who track consumer behavior say that shoppers for four out of every five American households are focusing on price more that ever before” (Olszeski, 2004). On a weekly basis, one-third of American household shoppers visit a Wal-Mart store (Facenda, 2005). Wal-Mart has been described as the largest owner and manager of retail space in the country, and some say the world. Wal-Mart’s supercenters pair full-scale grocery stores with its traditional discount store format. (Maestri, 2007).

There is significant information that the entrance of Wal-Mart into a small community has a considerable impact whether it is positive or negative. This study will assess the impact of Wal-Mart on community outlook by comparing two small Texas communities one of which has a Wal-Mart location and one without. This study sought to: (1) explore Wal-Mart’s impact on a small community, (2) investigate local residents opinions on Wal-Mart and (3) compare the conditions in a town with a Wal-Mart to a town without a Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has both positive and negative impacts on small communities. For the community of Andrews, TX, a Wal-Mart supercenter would be a welcomed business and residents feel that it would boost the local economy in addition to bringing in other businesses. For the community of Lakeway, TX, the community has feels that Wal-Mart has had a somewhat positive and negative impact on the local community.

Keywords

Walmart, Retailing, Consumer Behavior, Texas

Share

COinS
 
Jan 7th, 3:15 PM Jan 7th, 4:00 PM

The Impact of Walmart on Community Outlook: A Study of Two Communities in Texas

The Impact of Wal-Mart on Community Outlook: A Study of Two Small Texas Towns

Abstract

“The sages who track consumer behavior say that shoppers for four out of every five American households are focusing on price more that ever before” (Olszeski, 2004). On a weekly basis, one-third of American household shoppers visit a Wal-Mart store (Facenda, 2005). Wal-Mart has been described as the largest owner and manager of retail space in the country, and some say the world. Wal-Mart’s supercenters pair full-scale grocery stores with its traditional discount store format. (Maestri, 2007).

There is significant information that the entrance of Wal-Mart into a small community has a considerable impact whether it is positive or negative. This study will assess the impact of Wal-Mart on community outlook by comparing two small Texas communities one of which has a Wal-Mart location and one without. This study sought to: (1) explore Wal-Mart’s impact on a small community, (2) investigate local residents opinions on Wal-Mart and (3) compare the conditions in a town with a Wal-Mart to a town without a Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has both positive and negative impacts on small communities. For the community of Andrews, TX, a Wal-Mart supercenter would be a welcomed business and residents feel that it would boost the local economy in addition to bringing in other businesses. For the community of Lakeway, TX, the community has feels that Wal-Mart has had a somewhat positive and negative impact on the local community.