There are lots of myths float around for Wall Mart’s success and students, enthusiasts, research scholars, academicians; brand pundits all have their own theories on the brand.
Now, Wall Mart itself arranged an event where nine research scholars presented their paper on the event. We don’t know how ‘inclined’ these reports are as it seems the retail major is on a drive to mold its image for its audience.
An excerpt from the Washingtonpost
“The event was a strange hybrid of academics and public relations at which attendees toted around registration information in plastic Wal-Mart shopping bags. A room full of people asking questions was reminded — after a journalist asked about a statistic in a paper — that reporters were not allowed to take part in the Q&A.
Outside, Wal-Mart critics greeted attendees. About a dozen demonstrators with the United Food and Commercial Workers union and its Wake Up Wal-Mart organization gathered outside the J.W. Marriott to protest the conference, some arrayed behind a large Wake Up Wal-Mart banner. A few others handed out fliers headlined “Research Confirms: Wal-Mart Needs to Change” that touted some of the more critical findings of the academic papers”
Nevertheless another case study for the B-school students to brood over.
