ABSTRACT
This chapter tells the story of Wal-Mart’s astounding ascent, from a single Five and Dime in Bentonville, Arkansas to the heights of global retail dominance. We examine Wal-Mart’s rise in relationship to both a broader history of retail and to transformations in the American economy more generally. Chroniclers of Wal-Mart’s growth tend to emphasize the visionary leadership of Sam Walton [www.biographyshelf.com/sam_walton_biography.html]—the self-made, disciplined, and hard-nosed capitalist whose vision the company strives to both adhere to and adapt. Walton is also thought of as a forward-thinking vanguard, due to the numerous innovations in efficiency and information technology he oversaw during his years as CEO. These characterizations are complemented by descriptions of “Mr. Sam” as an unpretentious fellow with a common touch who was dedicated to the needs of his customers and employees. At the 2012 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting (ASM), his children called him simply “a merchant with a servant’s heart.” This narrative has been carefully curated and popularized by Wal-Mart, and forms the basis for the video that greets tourists in the Wal-Mart Visitor Center in Bentonville.
