Low-cost retail giant Wal-Mart is refusing to turn away from New York City, despite several failed attempts to open branches in the country's largest urban district.
Touting a different message and a willingness to erect smaller franchises than the company is used to, Wal-Mart spokesman Steven Restivo told the New York Times this week that the company is now speculating locations throughout the five boroughs.
"There is a business case to be made for our growth in large cities across the country," he said. "We know we have customers there, and we know we want to make access to our brand more convenient."
But other small business advocacy groups and labor unions are holding to their original reasons for rejecting previous attempts to build a Wal-Mart in the Big Apple, citing that such a venture will destroy small business and make it even more difficult for entrepreneurs to incorporate in New York.
"It's like David and Goliath … We're just a small business. We cannot compare with the prices," Arturo Payambs, owner of a Compare Supermarkets, told the New York Daily News.
But for a city hovering around a nine percent unemployment rate, many labor activists argue that a Wal-Mart will bring much needed jobs to the city, particularly in low-income areas where the company has been considering possible locations.
Tags : ny, operations, small business management
Posted: Dec 13th, 2010