Wal-Mart Giants to Open in Canada

Since Sam Walton opened the doors to the first Wal-Mart in Columbus, Georgia to present day, Wal-Mart has been excelling at a rapid rate. Wal-Marts are scattered all around the United States, some expanding to China. To start the New Year off with a big bang Wal-Mart has decided to open 40 Wal-Mart Supercenters in Canada. Opening half a billion dollars worth of Wal-Mart Supercenters in Canada could create 9,200 new jobs for local residents. Wal-Mart whose motto is to “Save money, live better,” is planning on keeping that motto when they move to Canada. When I first read about Wal-Mart moving to Canada I was saying “Wait a minute! Aren’t they already in Canada?” I had to do my research carefully because some of the articles that I read were confusing. At first I thought that meant that they did not have any Wal-Mart stores in Canada, but they do. When they say that they are going to open 40 new Wal-Mart Stores, they were talking about Supercenters. Supercenters mean that not only will there be clothes and electronics, etc., but there will be food as well. So in 2011 Wal-Mart plans to re-model many stores while only having to completely build and relocate a handful.

Some might think that Wal-Mart is going to have a great impact on the people in Canada, but others may not agree. Like in America I’m sure that there will be many angry consumers saying that Wal-Mart is taking over the world and trying to put the “Mom and Pop” stores out of business. The people are right though, Wal-Mart is taking over the world. My opinion is that Wal-Mart is expanding because they are great at what they do. Wal-Mart started off small with Sam Walton and thrived into a huge, booming industry that is loved throughout the world. Wal-Mart is successful in the United States and will likely be successful in Canada as well.

However, Wal-Mart is not the only booming business that is trying to expand to Canada. Target is also making plans on expanding. Currently in the United States Target has over one thousand stores open in at least 49 states. In order for Target to make its debut in Canada, they are taking the place of Zellers Inc. stores in 2011. The stores that they remodel into Target are supposed to begin to appear in the year of 2013.

I personally have not really ever shopped much at Target here in Joplin, Missouri, but the few times that I have been there I have been pleased with the selection of merchandise that they have there. I’m not too fond of Target though because when I do want to make my purchase and go to check out, the lines are so long that I do not want my items anymore! Another time I went I could not find what I was looking for and I could not find an associate to help me find that item! I have always been a Wal-Mart person because of the good customer service that they provide and the low prices. Needless to say I think that it is great that Wal-Mart and Target are both opening in Canada. This is a great opportunity for them to expand and stay the great giants they are today!  

Recourses:

http://www.canada.com/Walmart+Canada+open+supercentres/4169299/story.html

http://www.marketnews.ca/LatestNewsHeadlines/WalmarttoBuild,Expand,Remodel40SupercentresThisYear.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110126-714985.html

The Great and Powerful Netflix

How many of you bloggers have Netflix? Chances are most of you probably use Netflix regularly or know a friend or family member that does use it. Personally, I love Netflix. I love the fact that I can stream movies and television shows instantly to my television or PC for only $8.99 a month. Netflix is a modern day phenomenon. It has surpassed expectations from competitors such as Google Incorporated and Amazon.com.           

 Fourth quarter earnings for Netflix Inc. surpassed even the most skeptical predictions. After the New Year Netflix finally won over 20 million subscribers giving them profits of $596 million. Lately advertisement isn’t even a problem for them because so many people know about Netflix. According to Netflix’s advertising department they used to rely on slogans and commercials, but advertising is becoming less necessary because of word of mouth advertisement by satisfied customers. I truly believe this to be so because last Saturday night I went to a small get together meeting a handful of people I didn’t know very well and we ended up talking about Netflix for about forty-five minutes.

 I have noticed in reading through the vast amount of movies that Netflix offers, a large quantity of movies are older movies. I do not really have an interest in watching old movies; I’m more interested in watching newer movies and new releases. If I could pay a little bit more a month for newer movies that I could stream to my television I would definitely have no problem with coming up with the extra money.  However, the fact that Netflix’s movies are older and less popular than the newer releases, this is not stopping them from further expanding their clientele. In past few months Netflix decided to expand to Canada with great success. A spokesperson named Steve Swasey said that because of the successful inflation to Canada, with the New Year freshly upon us, they will attempt to further expand to different countries. However, in these new countries they are coming to, Netflix will only stream videos to computers and televisions. Again, I believe that this could be very successful if they could upload newer and more popular movies to Netflix. With Netflix expanding to other countries they will have to consider the genre of movies that these other cultures will enjoy. Will Netflix change the movie selections and if so have they considered the cost of rights to these foreign films?

Netflix seems to be like a modern day Wal-Mart. They have become so popular that they have forced other movie businesses such as Blockbuster, and Movie Gallery to close their doors. Why would you go to Blockbuster and spend $3.99 for a movie you can only have for a few days when you can pay $8.99 a month to have a large selection of movies and television series streamed instantly to your television?  If Netflix has become so popular to put other places where you can rent movies to shame, you have to wonder what the future holds for this booming business.

Recourses

http://www.geek.com/articles/news/netflix-looking-to-launch-international-streaming-in-2011-20101230/

http://us.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTE70P8GM20110126?ca=rdt

About Megan

     I always feel so repetitive when I have to write something about me. At first it was really hard for me. I guess I just don't like to talk about myself because I could never think of anything to write. I never really found my life very stimulating (which is probably a good thing). However, introducing myself is becoming much more simple. I have actually never created a blog or even read one until this week. At first I was not sure how I felt about it, but reading other people's blogs has made me like it a great deal.
     Now let me get down to introducing myself! My name is Megan Hopper and I am twenty-two years old. I have lived in Granby, Missouri my whole life until recently. In the past six months I quit my pharmacy job, got a new job, moved to Joplin, got a new place, transferred to a new college, and then moved AGAIN! Adjusting so quickly can be tough, but I enjoy the challenge. I am now glad to be attending MSSU in determination that I will obtain a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. Later down the road I might even go for a Masters Degree. I transferred from a college in Arkansas to be closer to home. I also have a full time job working at a little bakery on the corner of 32nd and Main here in Joplin. I love my job and all of the people that work at this little bakery where dull moments are few and far between!  I do not have any children, but I do have a baby Great Dane that goes by the name Hiro, who keeps my boyfriend and I on our toes. The future has much more exciting adventures for me. I hope to travel; maybe move somewhere warm like Texas when I get my degree. I hope to read more interesting blogs and I am very excited about furthering my education!