What are the advantages and disadvantages of big box stores coming to a small community.. like walmart?

Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of big box stores coming to a small community.. like walmart?

Answer 1

Pros...

cheaper prices, employs more people than Mom & Pop shops, one stop shopping

Cons....

Mom & Pop shops lose customers and end up going out of business

Pro-Con (depends on what is good for you) ...

More big stores will soon follow.  Growth of a small community.

Answer 2

it takes alot of employees to work at these large stores - all types of skill levels.  but this tends to drive small stores out of business - of course they will gladly hire the displaced store employees, because they have experience.

it also creates additional traffic, because the store tends to become a regional destination - this brings other businesses into play - ie more police, more gas stations/service facilities, it strains the roads if not designed correctly -

it can also change the feel of a town, main street is no longer the big destination.

Answer 3

Pros:

property, sales, and utility tax revenues generated by the large business to help schools, government offices, community programs.

Additional sales and jobs to companies that service Walmart as vendors...like Pepsi, Coke, Frito-Lay, etc...

Smaller community stores catering to a niche market can benefit.  For example, when I worked at a Walmart and we didn't carry what the customer was looking for, I referred them to the local pet shop, hardware store, craft store, office supply store,etc...

Stores also give back by donating money to different local charity organizations...not just their corporate one.

Offers a lot of convenience for shoppers that don't have a lot of time.  They can get most of what they need at one location instead of driving from store to store.

Cons:

There could be some property value issues for those that might have owned a house or land next to where they built the store.  It depends on how well the city decided on zoning ordinances.

Convenience and other small stores that rely on selling limited groceries, toothpaste, shampoo and essentials will have switch to different products or offer better service in order to compete with lower prices.

Answer 4

Advantages:

cheaper prices

one stop shopping

Disadvantages:

If you own a store nearby you'll probably be driven out of business.