They’re Just Cookies
Aug 10, 2009
I love what Walmart does and how they do it. Walmart is the world’s largest retailer for a reason: they provide goods and now services to consumers at the best value possible. All that being said, does it make any sense whatsoever that the bigwigs in Bentonville would focus their time and energy towards cannibalizing the Girl Scouts? Of course not! To quote Girl Scout “Cookie Mom’s” blog,
“This time, Walmart is knocking off the Girl Scouts…shoving itself in front of these little girls, and knocking on your door to sell you their almost-as-good fake Thin Mints and fake Tagalongs.”
Are you freaking’ kidding me? I guarantee that the world’s largest retailer has bigger things to worry about. If they didn’t, they would never have gotten to be the world’s largest retailer! The fact that this story is even considered newsworthy is ludicrous. I’m certain that Walmart’s goal was not to take down Girl Scouts across the nation. In fact, I’m willing to bet that most of these execs will happily buy more than their fair share of Girl Scout cookies the next time these little girls come knocking.
Walmart has spent the last decade or so honing its brand, which is evidenced by the fact that Walmart is one of the recession’s biggest retail success stories. Walmart has perfected the ability to bring affordability to the masses, allowing people to live better lives (“Save Money, Live Better”). The chain now has more merchandise offerings than ever before and has recently begun focusing on improving its private-label offerings, in addition to differentiating itself through low prices on national brands. They always find a way to remain relevant, especially when it comes to filling a need that isn’t being met elsewhere within industries like healthcare, financial services, groceries, and technology service. Walmart has even put a significant effort into improving its image as a good corporate citizen, not to mention the huge impact the retailer has on local economies across the nation. And Walmart doesn’t whine about their power like other large companies do.
So before we decide that Walmart is organizing a malicious conspiracy against the Girl Scouts, let’s get real people: they’re just cookies!
LINKS
Ad Age – Mom Accuses Walmart of Going After Girl Scouts
I think you got it wrong on this one JZ.
-”They’re just cookies” As well as the primary fund raiser for the Girl Scout organization.
-How can you consider making cookies, or any product that is so purposefully similar to an existing product, anything other than going after the current market share?
-I agree that Walmart is not attempting to take down the Girl Scout organization. Just the revenue from their iconic annual fund raising campaign.
Look I realize this is capitalism at its finest, but it is nice when organizations like the Girl Scouts are spared. I think after the next Girl Scout cookie sales numbers are tallied we’ll see if this is much ado about nothing.
Regards,
I agree in the capitalistic sense that they are just selling cheap knock-offs of the Girl Scout cookies. I mean no one is knocking on Keebler’s or Hershey’s doors about the matter; they too sell the same exact cookies.
Although, celebrating Wal-mart is something I refuse to do.
What most people do not know is how they set up and in return destroy small towns. The practice is really annoying and unfair for towns.
First, Wal-mart comes in to the town leaders and ask them if they want a Wal-mart in their town; if the town leaders say yes, Wal-mart asks them to front the money for the land and building of the location; tells them that the taxes from the sales will cover their expenses until the building is paid off; because the town is paying for the land and building, Wal-mart does not have to pay property taxes since the building is “government property”; then when they make their money, they get out of the original building and build a Super Wal-mart.
The town gets stock with the building, shitty $6.25/hour jobs and no competition. Super Wal-mart destroys all of the small businesses around, whom have been paying for their property taxes all along, and now cannot compete with such low prices.
I find this business practice rather appalling, and because of this, I cannot celebrate Wal-mart like you just did above.
Sorry.