The Walmart store was first formed in 1945 by businessman J.C. Penney and employee Walton Sam. The business went well, but they failed to renew the store. The first official Walmart store was opened in 1962 in Arkansas.
The inspiration of Fedmart kept the name Walmart. Let’s see Walmart’s success in detail in this article…
Walmart success story:

Walmart is a multinational retail store with hypermarkets, discount department stores, grocery stores, Sam’s Club, Walmart Neighborhood, and e-Commerce.
The store was first formed in 1945 by businessman J.C. Penney and employee Walton Sam. They bought the branch of the Ben Franklin stores from the Butler Brothers and started a small business to offer goods to the customers at a lower price. As per their expectation, the company went very well, and they made a profit of 45%.
They got a revenue income of $105,000; then it increased to $140,000 the next year and $175,000 the year after. Within five years, it reached $250,000. The business went well, but they failed to renew the store.
So, they started a new Bentonville store named Walton’s Five and Dime. Now this store operates as a Walmart Museum.
The first official Walmart store was opened in 1962 in Arkansas. The inspiration of Fedmart kept the name Walmart. It was the first discount store, opened in 1954. Within five years, Walmart had expanded to 18 branches in Arkansas, and sales reached $9 million.
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Walmart Achievements from 1962 to 2022:
It’s been 60 years of travel. From the start to the present, Walmart has been No. 1 in the world. Though they faced setbacks in their business, they never got fed up with it. Always keep aiming to offer low-value goods to the customers.
They never thought about gaining profits from the business; they just wanted to give everyone affordable things. The growth journey of Walmart from 1962 to 2022 is given below.
Year | Achievements |
---|---|
1962 | The first Walmart store opened in Rogers, Arkansas. |
1967 | Walmart opened 24 stores and gained a profit of $12.7 million. |
1969 | The company officially announced it as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., |
1970 | Walmart begins its trading business and its stock is sold at $16.50. |
1971 | The first distribution center and home office opened in Arkansas. |
1972 | Walmart is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and sales were up to $78 million. |
1975 | Walmart Cheer was introduced to the market. |
1978 | First, Walmart pharmacy is open. |
1979 | The Walmart Foundation is open. |
1980 | Walmart reached $1 billion in sales and opened 276 stores with 21,000 employees. |
1983 | Sam’s Club was opened in Oklahoma. Cash billing was replaced by computerized billing. |
1984 | Walton does the Hula on Wall Street and gains pre-tax of 8%. |
1987 | The Walton family opens the Walton Family Foundation. They opened a private satellite to link all Walmart companies through voice, data, and video communication. |
1988 | The first Walmart supercenter opened in Washington. It is operated as a one-stop shopping center. |
1991 | Walmart joined hands with Cifra and opened its first Sam’s Club company in Mexico. |
1992 | Sam Walton passed away, and Rob Walton became chairman. There were 1928 stores, and 371,000 employees worked. |
1996 | opened the first store in China. |
1997 | The company made $100 billion in sales. |
1998 | The Walmart neighborhood market was started in three branches of Arkansas and kept its footprint in the United Kingdom. |
2000 | H. Lee Scott Jr. becomes CEO. Walmart.com was opened to provide online shopping for U.S. customers. 3989 stores were opened and 1.1 million employees worked. |
2002 | For the first time, Walmart tops the Fortune 500 ranking list of America’s largest companies. Walmart steps into Japan. |
2005 | Walmart helped a lot during hurricanes Rita and Katrina. They offered $18 million and 2450 trucks of goods to the people. They started an environmental saving program. |
2006 | Walmart started a $4 generic prescription program. |
2007 | The Walmart.com service was launched in all Walmart stores to do online shopping. |
2009 | Mike Duke becomes CEO. The sales reached above $400 million and entered Chile. |
2010 | Walmart enters India. They launched global sustainable agriculture to strengthen farmers and offer high-quality foods to customers. |
2011 | Walmart entered South Africa and surpassed 10,000 retail units around the world. |
2012 | Walmart enters into 50 years of success celebration. |
2013 | Walmart announced it will hire veterans. Within five years, they planned to hire 100,000 veterans for their stores. They stepped into Columbia. |
2014 | Greg Foran becomes president and CEO of Walmart. The US. Doug McMillion became CEO. |
2015 | Walmart has 2.3 million employees, 200 million customers weekly, and 11,000 stores in 27 countries. |
2016 | Walmart Pay was introduced to make purchases on Walmart.com et.com and Heyneedle.com became part of the Walmart family and opened its first training academy in South Carolina. |
2017 | John Furner becomes president and CEO of Sam’s Club. They launched free shipping for 2 million goods. Project Gigaton was launched to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. |
2018 | Walmart changed its name from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to Walmart Inc. One million employees get benefits from maternity and parental leave. They got Flipkart in India under their control and expanded to Brazil. |
2019 | The first Walmart health center was opened. Walmart insources its advertising business. KathMcLay became president and CEO of Sam’s Club. |
2020 | Walmart and Sam’s Club have opened many COVID testing centers and supply PPE kits to medical workers. Walmart.org establishes the Center for Racial Equity following the murder of George Floyd. |
2021 | Walmart invests in drone delivery, fintech, and autonomous vehicles. They launched the Walmart GoLocal last-mile delivery service and data ventures. Walmart and Sam’s Club helped in supplying COVID vaccines to the people. |
2022 | Walmart’s health service expands to Florida. This year, Walmart celebrates its 60th year. |
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Different stores of Walmart:
Walmart Supercenters:
They include meat and poultry, baked goods, frozen foods, dairy products, garden produce, and fresh seafood.
Many Walmart Supercenters also have a garden center, pet shop, pharmacy, Tire & Lube Express, optical center, a one-hour photo processing lab, portrait studio, and numerous alcove shops, such as cellular phone stores, hair and nail salons, video rental stores, local bank branches, and fast-food outlets.
In some supermarkets, they have a gasoline supply too. Many food courts, like McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Palm Desserts, etc., opened in their stores. In one place, people can get everything. Nearly 12 million products are available here.
Walmart Discount Store:
It includes general merchandise and needed groceries. Some stores have a garden center, pharmacy, Tire & Lube Express, optical center, one-hour photo processing lab, portrait studio, bank branch, cell phone store, fast food outlets, and gasoline stations.
Walmart Neighborhood store:
The stores focus on three significant sales categories: groceries, which account for about 55 percent of the company’s revenue, pharmacy, and, at some stores, fuel.
For groceries and consumable products, the stores sell fresh fruits and vegetables, bakery items, prepared foods, meat, dairy, organic, general grocery, frozen foods, cleaning products, and pet supplies.
Some stores offer wine and beer sales and drive-through pharmacies.
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Sam’s Club:
They sell general groceries and other products. Here you can order in bulk orders.
Walmart’s success strategy:
Some key factors that contributed to Walmart’s success are as follows:
1. Emphasis on low prices:
Walmart is known for its “everyday low prices” strategy, which keeps prices consistently low across all products. This strategy has helped Walmart appeal to a wide range of customers, from budget-conscious shoppers to those who value convenience.
2. Large-scale operations:
Walmart operates more than 11,000 stores in 27 countries, making it one of the largest retailers in the world. Its massive scale allows the company to negotiate lower prices with suppliers and spread fixed costs across many stores.
3. Innovation and technology:
Walmart has been a leader in implementing new technologies to improve its operations and customer experience. For example, the company has invested heavily in e-commerce and has developed a range of innovative technologies, such as its automated pickup towers and its use of robots to clean floors and track inventory.
4. Focus on employee satisfaction:
Walmart has a reputation for being a tough employer, but the company has made efforts to improve working conditions and employee satisfaction in recent years. In 2019, Walmart announced raising its starting wage to $11 per hour and offering additional employee benefits.
5. Strong corporate culture:
Walmart’s strong corporate culture emphasizes efficiency, frugality, and customer service. The company’s founder, Sam Walton, was known for his hands-on leadership style and commitment to serving customers. This culture has been passed down to subsequent generations of Walmart leaders and is a key driver of the company’s success.
Overall, Walmart’s success can be attributed to a combination of factors, including its low-price strategy, large-scale operations, focus on innovation and technology, emphasis on employee satisfaction, and strong corporate culture.
Motivation from Walmart’s success story:
Walmart’s success story is a great source of motivation as it demonstrates the power of hard work, innovation, and customer-centricity. Here are some key takeaways that can inspire individuals and businesses:
Customer Focus:
Walmart’s focus on delivering the best possible shopping experience for its customers helped it become one of the largest retailers in the world. By constantly listening to and understanding their customers’ needs, Walmart was able to provide affordable, high-quality products and services that people love.
Innovation:
Walmart’s supply chain management, logistics, and technology innovation has been instrumental in its success. By investing in new technologies and systems, Walmart was able to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the overall shopping experience for its customers.
Hard Work:
Walmart’s founder, Sam Walton, had a strong work ethic and believed in leading by example. He encouraged his employees to work hard, innovate, and continuously improve. This culture of hard work and dedication has been a key driver of Walmart’s success.
Adaptability:
Walmart has been able to adapt to changing market trends and consumer preferences. By constantly evolving its business model and offerings, Walmart has remained relevant and competitive in a rapidly changing retail landscape.
Overall, Walmart’s success story is a testament to the power of hard work, customer focus, innovation, and adaptability. It shows that with the right mindset and approach, anyone can succeed and positively impact the world.
FAQs about Walmart
What is Walmart?
Walmart is a retail corporation that operates hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores across the globe. It is headquartered in the United States and is a multinational company. It is one of the largest retailers in the world and offers a wide variety of products including groceries, electronics, clothing, home goods, and more.
What are Walmart’s store hours?
Walmart’s store hours may vary by location, but most stores are typically open from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, seven days a week. However, some stores may have different hours, so it’s best to check with your local Walmart store for their specific hours.
Does Walmart offer online shopping?
Yes, Walmart offers online shopping through its website, Walmart.com, and its mobile app. Customers can shop for a wide range of products and have them delivered to their home or to a nearby Walmart store for pickup.
What is Walmart’s return policy?
Walmart’s return policy allows customers to return most items within 90 days of purchase with a receipt or original packaging. However, some items, such as electronics, have a shorter return window of 15 to 30 days. Customers can return items in-store or by mail, depending on the item and the reason for the return.
Does Walmart offer price matching?
Walmart offers price matching for eligible items sold by local competitors or Walmart.com. Customers can request a price match at the time of purchase or within seven days by contacting Walmart customer service.
Does Walmart offer a loyalty program?
Yes, Walmart offers a loyalty program called Walmart+ which provides members with benefits such as free delivery on eligible orders, mobile scan & go, member prices on fuel, and more. To become a member, one can either pay $12.95 per month or $98 per year.
What payment methods does Walmart accept?
Walmart accepts a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, cash, Walmart gift cards, and Walmart Pay (a mobile payment option). Some stores also accept other payment methods such as PayPal and check.