The pros of having a Wal-Mart located nearby are that the Wal-Mart store brings in customer traffic and those businesses that are located nearby also get more customers. The footfall increases leading to improved business in the area. The owners of small businesses located nearby also gain because Wal-Mart attracts several suppliers who also service local businesses. In other words, the overall business of the local area increases. Further, residential houses and apartments spring up in the areas where Wal-Mart is located leading to greater business for local retailers.
The cons are that local businesses that sell the products sold by Wal-Mart are driven out of business. These businesses have lower revenues. For every gain in customer by Wal-Mart, local businesses lose out. Wal-Mart captures substantial portion of retail trade leading to bankruptcy of other retail businesses in the area. Building material, furniture, and food product retailers are forced to close because Wal-Mart takes away their business. Wal-Mart is known to charge low prices on
…show more content…
The landscape changes lead to environmental consequences such as altering water runoff, habitat destruction, and heat island problems. In addition, the trucks that supply to Wal-Mart cause sound and air pollution. The local people that are employed at Wal-Mart are paid very low salaries, they are subject to sexual discrimination, and are often not paid their due benefits. Erosion is not the only environmental problem with Wal-Mart stores. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection sued Wal-Mart over pesticide and fertilizer pollution in its rivers and streams in May 2000. Connecticut claims that 11 Wal-Mart stores left pesticides and fertilizers in the parking lot, when hard rains fell on the lot, the chemicals were carried into rivers and streams, affecting the health of plants, animals, and people (Robinson,