Resources and News Links:
» WakeUpWalMart.com - Lastest News.
» ReclaimDemocracy.org - Links and Information.
» WalMartWatch.com - Latest News.
» McSpotlight.org - Links and Information.
» WalMartMovie.com - The High Cost of Low Price.
» Sprawl-Busters.com - Anti-Sprawl Information.
» Wal-MartSubsidyWatch.org - Use of Subsidy Money in Your State.
» GoodJobsFirst.org - Smart Growth for Working Families.
» NewRules.org - Designing Rules As If Community Matters.
» Wal-MartLitigation.com - Info.
» Labourstart.org - Wal-Mart.
» HometownAdvantage.org - Info.
» Institute For Local Self Reliance - (ilsr.com)
» Smart Growth Online - News.
» LawMall.com™ - Info on Fighting Unlawful Practices.
Other Organization Links:
» Buy Local First Utah
Our Mission:
A coalition of businesses and business leaders dedicated to working within the framework of city, county and state government and in concert with other concerned organizations that are committed to the preservation of free enterprise, the promotion of local businesses and maintenance of fair and equitable business practices.
Our Purpose:
The Hometown Merchants Association has been founded with the purpose of representing a multi-industry membership concerning issues that promote the general good of the business community or threaten the existence of free enterprise. HMA's primary goal shall be to create and maintain a level playing field for all retail businesses.
Involvement in Your Community:
Hometown Merchants Association (HMA) is a multi-industry membership organization whose mission is to provide assistance to independent businesses to help them remain strong and vital in their community. One of HMA’s main focuses is to research the impact mega box stores (such as Wal-Mart) have on the community and the surrounding area in which they locate, and to educate public officials and consumers on the findings.
Our Goal:
HMA’s goal is to educate as many consumers as possible regarding problems that will arise with the rapid expansion of Wal-Mart Supercenters. Since forming in 2003, HMA has presented educational meetings in 18 communities and 22 trade groups. We have forwarded research and other information to numerous individuals across the country. We have testified personally in 10 different communities at planning commission and city council meetings. We have attended as many as 7 different commission and council meetings in one community. We have provided interviews and materials for numerous college and high school students doing research papers and speeches on this subject. We have spent considerable time educating our government leaders both in Washington and at the state level.
Our Task - To Inform:
In many communities, citizens are thrilled at the prospect of a Wal-Mart Supercenter nearby. If we are to win this battle we need to continue to educate the general public. In order for us to achieve our goal, we need your help. Local community leaders must lead this fight. The future of independent retailers lies in the hands of those very independents. No one else will do this for you.
Many retailers feel that they have nothing to worry about as there is already a Wal-Mart in the area, or your store is too remote and a Wal-Mart will not locate in your community, or another store in your community will close and you’ll be able to pick up some of the volume. Consider the position in which this puts your wholesaler. If you lose 20% of your volume it would equal more than 50% of your profits. If that were to happen to your wholesaler what would become of the rebate program, and in turn what would become of you? It’s time to take control of our future.
Promises Don't Always Become Reality:
Supercenters promote themselves as a retailer who will increase local sales tax and create new jobs. It has been widely stated that for every new job created in a supercenter, the community will loose three jobs. A study done in San Diego County, California in 2000, states that for every ½ time job created, the community will loose 1½ full time jobs that would have paid a higher wage. The study also goes on to say that the San Diego area could incur up to $9 million in extra public health costs because fewer people will be covered by health insurance. In this past year, news reports have come out in fourteen states indicating that Wal-Mart is the biggest corporate user of Medicaid insurance for their employees. In Georgia the Atlanta Journal discovered that 1 out of 4 Wal-Mart employees had a child enrolled in the state’s free insurance for the low income; the next biggest user was Publix grocery stores with 1 out of every 22 employees being enrolled. In similar check of the Medicaid rolls in Nebraska it was found that Wal-Mart was the biggest corporate user of the state’s taxpayer funded Medicaid program. In one study, Wal-Mart was compared to other retailers doing like types of business in the Lincoln area. The findings showed that when comparing an equal percentage of employees, Wal-Mart had 65% more employees on the state’s Medicaid program. Wal-Mart employees and their family members on Medicaid are costing the Nebraska taxpayer approximately $8.7 million per year.
HMA conducted a grocery price comparison in all operating WM Supercenters in 2003. This price comparison attempts to illustrate that supercenter pricing in Nebraska is based on the competition left in the area. Our price comparisons indicate that when competition no longer exists, the price of goods increases. In Nebraska we see a disparity of 17% from one supercenter to another. A Wal-Mart manager informed meeting attendees that it is only normal business to price according to the competition. Later in a private conversation he stated that Wal-Mart is good for consumers because they sell cheap and will not be undersold. Considering both statements made by the same Wal-Mart manager provides the understanding that they will set the price at whatever level they need to get the business. As competition is eliminated the cost of goods will go up. To give some insight into their ability to accomplish their goals you need only to recognize how large this company is. In a Buiness Week article dated October 6, 2003 a statement is made that Wal-Mart is three times larger than the world’s number two retailer. Another study suggests that if the volume of business Wal-Mart does in a year were compared to economies of the world they would be the 13th largest economy. A Wal-Mart official has publicly stated they want to double in size in the next five years. They have the resources to buy the business and very clearly escalate prices as competition decreases. This has been shown to be the case across the country.
Charitable Donations Decline:
A major area of concern is that charitable giving declines in communities where supercenters locate. It has been shown that as time passes and businesses close, money becomes tighter and the non-profits, whose sole means of operation depends on the good will of others, begin to struggle financially. When Wal-Mart puts their spin on their giving they use such large numbers that impress most people. In one community at a public meeting a Wal-Mart spokesman stated that Wal-Mart would contribute $40,000 to $50,000 per year to local charities and causes. Consider that one local grocery store in that community historically donates $100,000 per year toward community projects and the donation is put into perspective. Add that to all of the other potential lost business in that community and there would be a large net loss in charitable giving.
If you have a business and would like to join the Hometown Merchants Association, please email us at:
merchant@hometownmerchantsassociation.com
If you have information or links that you would like included on The Hometown Merchants Association Web Site, please email us at:
info@hometownmerchantsassociation.com
