Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The Ghost, Sam Walton

Afternoon movie: The Ghost. A 'terrifying spine-chiller from South Korea' kept us engrossed for a few hours this afternoon. We both got confused with who was who but in the end, with some careful attention and by comparing notes, we figured out what was going on. Our own confusion probably reduced the suspense and terror some but it retained sufficient horror and 'what's-going-to-happen-nextness' to keep us on the edge of our seats, scrunched up, biting our nails and holding our breath all at the same time. Well, not really, but it was entertaining.

Earlier in the day, finished Sam Walton's Made in America, the book written by the guy who made Wal-Mart (he did have a write helping him - John Huey). Down home guy makes good. As with Dave Halberstam's book, when I finished this one, I wanted to sit down and continue the conversation with Sam. The book was completed shortly before he died back in the early '90's so a lot has happened since then and most notably with Wal-Mart. Would love to have his comments on what his little store has become. From wikipedia.org:
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large, discount department stores. It is the world's largest public corporation by revenue, according to the 2007 Fortune Global 500.[3] Founded by Sam Walton in 1962, it was incorporated on October 31, 1969, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. It is the largest private employer in the world and the fourth largest utility or commercial employer, trailing the Chinese army, the British National Health Service, and the Indian Railways. Wal-Mart is the largest grocery retailer in the United States, with an estimated 20% of the retail grocery and consumables business, as well as the largest toy seller in the U.S., with an estimated 22% share of the toy market.

I think he would take it all in stride and be mildly impressed as he was with his success from the opening of his first store in 1962 to it's 2000 plus store in 1991 (6500 by 2005). I'm impressed.

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