Steve Mensing, Editor
♦ Despite the claims and myths put forward by uninformed supporters of shop local independent retailers, Walmart contributes more to Salisbury, N.C.’s well-being than all the downtown shop local independent retailers massed together. This not to putdown the struggling independent downtown retailers, I just have little time for those shop local independents who create myths about the large corporate giant chain retailers. Further I am not down with any retail group independent or corporate who create monopolies to block free market enterprise in the downtown area.
Those who accuse me of harming downtown businesses best hike that finger back at themselves. I did not create Salisbury’s bad reputation throughout the state or it’s abysmal stats in poverty, crime, and education. You can lay that blame at a number of door steps. One being the local media who refused to print any negative truths about the Bury. They held people back from knowing what was really going on here, seeking solutions, and taking action to make required changes. That blame can also be laid at the feet of corrupt local government and banking and real estate families with a dire need to control the economic landscape to their own advantage. The chickens are coming home to roost.
Walmart is the far and away the number one retailer in all of Salisbury. It contributes more to our city and county’s tax base than any single big box chain retail merchant and likely all those shop local downtown retailers put together. There are numerous reasons for Walmart’s success in Salisbury and elsewhere. They are hyper-alert to folk’s needs. Their buyers are keyed into what people require. They sell lower than other retailers and keep well stocked. They are also open 24 hours a day. Their employees are well-trained and ever ready to assist at least in the last 4 years. Can the same be said for many shop local independent retailers who only hire family and possibly friends often at minimum wage and without healthcare benefits?
The Walmart workers I’ve spoken with in the Salisbury Super Center enjoy their working conditions, pay scale, ability to advance, and health insurance. They say treatment by supervisory staff is excellent. Walmart is well known for employing the elderly as greeters.
Many on Social Security and Medicare rely on Walmart’s budget-minded Humana insurance to help out with medical and pharmaceutical costs.
Among the ugly rumors, with no foundation is reality, is that Walmart does not give back to the community. Walmart year in and year out is one of the four largest corporate philanthropic givers in the USA, giving close to a billion dollars a year mostly to education. Walmart’s contribution tax wise to Rowan County and Salisbury is immense. Think about it:
-Property taxes.
-Privilege license taxes.
-State sales tax on goods sold.
-Local sales tax on goods sold.
-Federal income tax.
-State income tax.
-Tax on utilities.
Walmart’s 3 shifts of employees, who live in Salisbury and Rowan County, pour a lot of their money back into their communities.
Walmart, more than any other chain or independent retail store in Salisbury, lowers the cost of living here.
http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/
