I don't have any problems with people who don't like Walmart, but it miffs me a bit when they make up completely wild and incorrect statistics to support their claims. The Walmart in our little country town of Bowie, Texas has been responsible for growth of that city, residential and businesses. The taxes collected from sales at that store have aided growth and well-being of the entire town. The town was stagnant and going nowhere until Walmart came to town. It provided jobs, taxes, and sales in other businesses because of their proximity to Walmart. Without Walmart, people had to travel at least 30 miles away to shop. They took their dollars to those far-away places. With Walmart in town, the downtown area has been revitalized with shops because people will stop in to restaurants, antique shops, and specialty clothing stores on the way to and from Walmart. I truly cannot see a single trigger other than Walmart arriving that has been responsible for the speedy growth of the town.
Having said that, there are other reasons I like our Walmart:
1. The biggest and best parking lot
2. The cleanest store
3. A service station that sells fuel at the most competitive prices
4. A deli that has the best and freshest foods
5. A produce department full of fresh veggies and seasonal items
6. Fresh cut flowers daily
7. Fresh meats and a large variety of cuts
8. Fresh dairy products and a wide selection
9. More snack foods than my diet allows
10. Beer by the case
11. Electronics
12. Some furniture (not really a great selection, but ample)
13. Automotive maintenance fluids, filters, products
14. Sporting goods
15. Household goods and small appliances
16. Huge garden center
17. Huge pet supplies center
18. Prescription drugs
19. Clothing
20. Greeting cards
21. Seasonal sales (Valentines, Halloween, etc.)
22. Friendly people with smiling faces.
I could go on and on, but it is so easy for me to list all these things and the reason I love to shop at our Walmart. I'm very sorry if you have a bad experience when you go into one of their stores, but I almost always go into the store with a smile on my face and leave with a smile. Walmart makes my life easier; I'll continue to be a fan as long as they keep meeting my needs so well. Walmart is a huge plus in our community.
