Posted on 07/11/2003 7:47:55 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Wal-Mart Opens First Store in Beijing
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN Associated Press Writer
BEIJING (AP) -- Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, opened its first outlet in China's capital Friday, making its inaugural foray into a major Chinese city after setting up 22 stores elsewhere in the country.
Thousands of shoppers packed the cavernous Sam's Club store on the far western edge of Beijing, testing out electronics, puzzling over imported cheese and loading shopping carts full of beer, paper towels and fresh seafood.
"We'll try it out. The prices look cheap, but it's a little far to come," said Li Mei, a housewife pushing her 2-year old son in a shopping cart past tanks of live seafood in the food section.
The opening represents a new step in Wal-Mart's penetration of the Chinese retail market, seven years after it opened its first China outlet in the southern city of Shenzhen.
Wal-Mart operates about 3,200 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores in the United States and more than 1,200 stores worldwide, including outlets in Germany, Great Britain, Brazil, Argentina and Korea. Wal-Mart racked up worldwide sales of $217.2 billion in 2001, but won't say how much of that was in China.
Already the single largest buyer of Chinese products, the Bentonville, Ark.-based company is rapidly becoming one of the biggest sellers to Chinese too.
Customers snapped up meat and seafood at the Beijing store, while western breakfast cereal, cream cheese and dill pickles drew few buyers. By midday, the 1,000-spot parking lot was full - an indication both of the store's popularity and the growing taste for cars among the city's increasingly affluent middle-class.
If Wal-Mart were a nation, it would be China's eighth-largest export destination.
Even many of the best known American food products on sale in the Beijing outlet are made in China. The Heinz baby food came from the southern city of Guangzhou, the Budweiser beer was brewed in Wuhan in the country's center, and the Tang drink mix comes from Tianjin, just east of Beijing.
Wal-Mart president for Asia Joe Hatfield said the company plans two more stores in Beijing.
"I think we'll do well," Hatfield said as members of the 500-strong staff wearing jeans and red polo shirts rushed among the crowds, answering questions and restocking shelves.
Hatfield said the company held off opening in Beijing until it had refined its approach to the China market and trained a core group of experienced Chinese managers.
The lag, however, has allowed other companies to move into the bulk shopping sector in Beijing. France's Carrefour and PriceSmart of the United States already have Beijing stores. Local competitors are also getting into the business too, including one called Wu Mart, located about five minutes from the Wal-Mart store.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
2 posted on 3/6/02 7:30 AM Pacific by grammymoon:
"What would you do Without FR?
How would You Feel without FR?
Suppose one day you tried to log on and Free Republic wasn’t there?
Where would you get your up to the minute news? How about the live threads as things are happening?
How would you know about the latest Demorat scams, anti-second amendment schemes and all the other liberal, anti-American ploys that are tried every single day?
Insight into world affairs, brilliant wit, sharp retorts, instant information gratification are a few of the things that make FR so vital.
How would you keep on top of things without FR?
How would you know who to contact to complain about the lying politicians, Media Bias, Hollyweirds latest mouth off, sponsors of these idiots, company policies that are unfair and all the other things we need to know to counteract the liberal mindset and the evil plans of liberals?
How would you be part of a Freep?
What would you do without FR????
Freedom isn’t free.
If you enjoy the site and find it a place of like minded Americans to sound off, to get together, to fight back, to have your voice heard and make a difference,PLEASE CONTRIBUTE NOW ! Donate Here By Secure Server
Jim can’t do this alone.
The liberals are sure we won’t be able to keep FR up & running. Prove them wrong. Show them we are indeed united Freepers. Whether it is $5.00, $50.00 or more, it all adds up. Please send a donation now to Free Republic.
No, there is a large banner on the front that states, "100 percent made in China".
Is that so? Are you implying that there are retailers out there that pay their employees high wages? I would love to know who they are.
Just when you thought slavery was dead..........
Well that statement differs quite a bit from your original statement that "Wal-Mart pays among the lowest wages in the industry." Now "all retail stores pay low wages."
I'm not trying to be overly argumentative but I had to respond to your earlier statement in Post 1. Wal-Mart pays wages that are competitive in the industry? Why would they do otherwise? It is unfair to pick on Wal-Mart for paying competitive wages in the industry (which by the way are usually well above minimum wage).
Any smart businessman or corporation would work to keep expenses down. Overpaying for labor is just not business smart. On the other hand, underpaying for labor has its own drawbacks as I earlier pointed out.
As for Henry Ford, if he was around today, he would be crucified by the same people who are bashing big corporations like Wal-Mart and Microsoft today. Henry Ford was no benevolent employer. Did you know that Henry Ford strictly regulated how his employees led their private lives? In fact, he would often visit the homes of his employees to ensure that they were in compliance with what he termed "an unblemished lifestyle".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.