Wal*Mart, Past and Present

From it’s small beginnings in 1962, Wal-Mart has grown to be one of the world’s largest corporations and an economic driver in the United States, their current lineup of products and low prices have made them a cornerstone and household name amongst families across the country. They offer 774 stores in all 50 states in the United Sates, also operates in Puerto Rico, Mexico as Walmex, Japan as Seiyu, India as Best Price, United Kingdom as Asda. Wal*Mart is one of the most successful retailers in the world, this is why today we can find about 8,650 stores in 15 different countries, and employs more than 2 million people. In Wal*Mart we can find everything from electronics, furnishing, house wares, lawn and garden to jewelry, toys, family apparel, healthy and beauty aids, automobile products, sporting and much more, and the best of everything at the lowest prices. Wal*Mart also offers Supercenters, neiborghood markets, market side, and if you do not want to get out of your house online services at walmart.com.

Wal*Mart is an American Public Corporation founded by Sam Walton in 1962, where he opened his first location in Rogers, Arkansas. Sam Walton was determined to make a discount retail store like no one had ever seen before, he traveled the entire country studying and learning everything he could about the business, so he could apply his method for a successful hybrid. Risking it all Sam Walton and his wife funded 95% of the initial investment with their own money and never looked back. Through out the rest of the 1960’s, Wal*Mart quickly began growing and had opened 15 more locations. Going into the 1970’s Wal-Mart began to hit its stride and opened over 275 stores in eleven states. The company also began trading publicly on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. With their rapid growth continuing through out the 1980’s, Wal*Mart opened their Supercenters as well as Sam’s Club to corner more of the market. The growth continued into the 90’s and is still continuing to this day under their business model, as one of the more successful companies in this current decade so far.

The man running the company right now is Michael T. Duke, he was appointed to the CEO position in February of 2009, after holding various other positions throughout the company from the time he joined it in July of 1995. Michael began his career in retail by working for 23 years with Federated and May department stores before he came to Wal-Mart. He graduated from Georgia-Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, and also serves on board of the University of Arkansas, as well as a member of the advisory board for the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management in Beijing, China.

For more information click the following links:

http://walmartstores.com/AboutUs/

http://investors.walmartstores.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=112761&p=irol-govBio&ID=47019