CNN/Money: Wal-Mart redeems itself (Katrina response), but what's next

[DeepModem Mom]

Wal-Mart redeems itself, but what's next
Experts say quick response to Katrina has softened its image some but deeper problems remain.
September 9, 2005: 4:31 PM EDT
By Parija Bhatnagar, CNN/Money staff writer


NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Kudos to Wal-Mart -- on two fronts.

First, the world watched as Wal-Mart (Research) quickly galvanized efforts to help Katrina victims within hours of the catastrophe. Second, by doing so, the world's largest retailer seems to have achieved the unthinkable -- silencing its many critics.

Still, industry watchers and branding experts are divided as to how long the second effect will last.

As the nation's largest private-sector employer with more than 1.3 million workers in the United States alone, the company has attracted dozens of lawsuits against it alleging pay and labor violations and gender discrimination. It's also drawn fire for stifling small businesses and squeezing its vendors.

Then came Hurricane Katrina.

Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst with market research firm NPD Group, thinks the storm will mark a turning point in Wal-Mart's ongoing efforts to fix its image....


http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/09/news/fortune500/walmart_image/index.htm?cnn=yes

[madokie]

1. Its a crying ass shame

The bastards feel a need to repair their image, polishing if you will.
Walmart has made it nearly imposible to boycott their asses here in N E Ok.

[napi21]

2. First, I want to know FOR SURE the doney WM donated was

actually THEIRS and not forced contributions from their employees.

I knowI was strong-armed at many jobs I had in the past, and my husband is strong-armed to contribute NOW! In our situations it was always the United Way, but I've heard rumors that similar tactics happened at WM, for the very purpose of making WM look good!

I applaud WM for the efforts they've done in this current tragedy but I'm NOT going to let them off the hook for their continuing employee relations problems and for what they are doing to the labor market of the US!

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. well...

I work at a Wal-Mart store. I know for a fact that we put out these 5-gallon jugs that customers can drop money in to. So far, the response has been extremely good. The jugs, after a week, were half-filled with singles, fives, even twenties.

Yesterday we received over $15,000 just in checks for the relief effort, from just my store.

I don't agree with a lot (if any) of Wal-Mart's corporate policies, but I think they've done really good in terms of this relief effort.

And no, they haven't been forcing employees to make contributions.

[Isere]

3. Now let them soften their image

by paying decent wages and giving each worker a health plan. Let them start buying from American suppliers. Let them stop destroying small town America.

Then I will shop there.

[Lochloosa]

4. Walmart is the beast

prove me wrong!

[DeadManInc]

6. They can try to repair their image all they want.

I still will not shop in their fucking stores again.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

7. Wal-Mart gets a bargain on Free Commercials on Natl TV

Wal-Mart is owned by the richest people in the world, the Walton family has more money than Bill Gates!

This is all a PR ploy for them, their image is broken and battered.

Wal-Mart donates heavily to the republican party, and therefore has a hand in our horrible situation.

Wal-Mart succeeded in driving down the minimum wage in China.

Imagine making less than 25 cents an hour!

This was inexpensive and highly valuable advertising for WalMart.

Let them give a $billion dollars, they would hardly miss it.

Or--let them make healthcare affordable to their employees, so that they don't have to go on medicaid.

Walmart sucks.

[Skittles]

8. BULLSHIT

WALMART HAS "REDEEMED" ITSELF NO MORE THAN THE PRESS HAS - the simple fact is Hurricane Katrina was something NO ONE COULD IGNORE