Why is Wal-mart opening Spanish language only stores.?

locosurfer

I think it is ridiculous. But, I suppose, they did marketing research and concluded that Spanish-oriented (as they call it) stores will generate revenue. I understand that this is going to be done in Hispanic-populated areas and the stores will be smaller (i.e. like their neighborhood market version of Wal-Mart). But, to me, it seems like a very bad trend from a public policy standpoint. It would be better to have a few signs bi-lingual rather than an entire store in a Spanish-only format.

Still, to legislate that this cannot happen seems wrong since it would violate free speech. I am guessing the Spanish mercados and little shops will suffer as a result. Until now (if you think about it), those mom and pops were insulated from this behemoth. Now, like everyone else, they will likely get knocked out by this big box.

In response to your additional point: I have been to South America too and I agree that it is not set up to cater to English speakers to the extent of other countries. But, I think there are a few "foreign" -oriented businesses in every country. For instance, when I lived in Hong Kong for a few months, I know there were certain places that catered to Americans. Also, there are "tourist" restaurants and stores in many foreign cities that have a lot of tourism (i.e. Europe). In most US cities, there are small Asian and Latin American stores. So, I don't think opening a particular store to cater to foreigners is breaking any barriers.

The problem, I think, is that this is not a specialty store for an ethnic group like the small mercados, chinese groceries, etc. This is a modification of a large "big box" store to cater to immigrants who are more comfortable speaking in Spanish. Essentially, it is taking the mainstream concept and modifying it to fit their lifestyle. In the past, it has always been the reverse. What's next, all Spanish drug stores, car dealerships, fast food chains, banks, etc., etc. It scares Americans because it seems like a slippery slope. If one big store goes Spanish, others might do so. If that happens on a large scale, it flips the tables. It essentially forces the natives to learn a non-native language. In most parts of the world, that wouldn't fly and it might not work here either. But, in America, we have very broad based freedoms. So, at this point, we will see how their experiment works! Who knows, Spanish speaking people might find "their" stores to be the equivalent of "separate but equal" (the rallying call for the African American civil rights movement) and reject it.

Ann D

I think its fine to speak Spanish in stores but why Spanish only? They will never learn English if everywhere they go someone speaks there language. I lived in Brazil and no one helped me. I learned Portuguese, why can't foreigners who want to live in the US learn English? Also a Spanish only store would discriminate Americans.

david d

I think I will go to one of those stores and sue for discrimination. I don't believe we will go all the way to court, as Wal-mart will settle out of court and I'll end up with enough money not to need to shop at Wal-mart. I do think it is wrong and people should boycott the stores that don't support America.

mimi

It shouldn't be opened in the 1st place this is America not Mexico and people that live where this is happing should cry that they are being discriminated against because of color.This would never be able to happen it it was just for whites,blacks, or any other race.

ogreat1

I find this hilarious for a couple of reasons.......1. Equality.....everyone whines and cries they want equality.......but don't want to blend in with the majority of the population........they want "SPECIAL' treatment.
2. Where is my GERMAN only store? There's still a large population of German speakers.....Russian.......Asian......et...
3. The people who think up these innovative ideas are too stupid to realize they've just created a racist environment for the very people they felt they were helping.........Way to go Walmart! Keep the divisions strong in America!

Proud of Being Mexican

Yeah I heard about that too TheyÂ´ll be calling them Supermercado de Walmart (lol). I think cuz they wanna target hispanics (IÂ´m hispanic) but I wonÂ´t go to Supermercado de WalMart cuz I like the other one, the normal one and I love speaking in english
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http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090316074453AAdYIAn

mizzhollywood26

Probably because these stupid illegals keep coming over here.

ICE 'em

Money. They don't care about all the illegals that won't learn English, they just want their money. I don't shop at Wal-Mart for this very reason, nor any other business that caters to those that mooch off of tax payers. Target doesn't and they are only a bit higher then Walmart, worth it to me.

Since Pelosi is so pro illegal immigration, perhaps we should limit those new stores to being put in Mexifornia.

Ida Slapter

To give me yet another reason to boycott them. Or - maybe spanish speakers are the only ones dumb enough to buy their poisonous chinese products.

February1

I don't know that they are. Wal Mart is in business to make money. They make money by serving their customers. Presumably such a decision would be based on serving an area with a near 100% Spanish and bilinugal population.

This idea doesn't bother me in the least. Having a Spanish language store in America doesn't mean they are BANNING English in the place.

What happened to all the rants about not telling business what to do?

Austin V

I believe this is to make the spanish people feel more secure, like they are more at home. They will not feel intimidated or rushed by what they may not understand, and therefore they will buy more products.

Paloma d

Because Walmart are the sort of company who seek to sqeeze out all competition from the market. They will do to the Spanish retailers what they did to all the other small, independently owned retail outlets around the country. Undercut them until they are no longer viable...and then hike up their prices skyhigh when they have a total monopoly on the local market. They will dictate what the people can buy, when they can buy it and they will set the purchase price.

Cspitalism is all about denying the consumer choice, not expanding it. Offering too many choices has a higher unit cost. Ever wondered why all Walmarts stock the same low quality sh*t...no matter where they are located? Because it is way cheaper for them to buy stock by the Freighter load and then spend money advertizing that this is what we all want and need...than to do some decent consumer research, find out what the people want and need...and then provide them with the opportunity to buy that.

Walmart is an evil entity. And if you think they give a flying f*ck about the Spanish speaking population...or the social divisions they will cause by this action, then you are mistaken.

They worship one thing and one thing only...the Holy dollar.

B.R

For one if you find it Disgusting here, then why the hell are you even visiting Mexico??

till i die

chances are you have a lot of Spanish only speakers in your area as both consumers or workers. if you had a lot of Cambodians they'd be opening stores more aimed at them but southwest is more or less Hispanic/Latin so it stands to reason since businesses aim at consumers who would bring in the most revenue it stands to reason Spanish speaking would be the target.maybe there aren't that many English speakers there that buy or want to work there

Camilla M

Good Question....

master chief 2.0

The idea is to allow those coming from Mexico for a visit to shop without needing to understand and speak English by putting up these Spanish only stores in Border States. An even better plan is to have bi-lingual only stores in the Border States.

Edit: little typo I had to fix LOL

Loretta C

i wish walmart would close down. do not work for walmart. people who work for walmart are hateful, they screw everything they come in contact with. woman leave their husbands and family for worse trash then they had. sluuts and horn dogs work for walmart. walmart is only wanting to make more money off the poor. they don't give a darn about the spanish, they are racist people who work for walmart.

GreasyTony

LOL! Do you have any links for us, or are you assuming it's 'Spanish Only' just because they'll have some stuff in Spanish?....I really doubt they'll have 'Spanish Only' stores.

Walmart and many other companies that are ran by successful and very smart people know where the market is....and today! that's the Hispanic Market.

http://www.bizreport.com/2007/02/hispanic_advertising_to_outpace_general_advertising.html
Hispanic advertising to outpace general advertising

"Advertising growth targeting Latinos is expected to outpace the general market over the next several years. Both the television and radio sectors should benefit from increased interest in targeting the demo," said Deana Myers, Kagan media analyst.

According to Kagan Research, Hispanic advertising will reach $5.5 billion by 2010, with a growth curve of 32% for Hispanic cable networks. General broadcast networks will show 12% growth during the same period.

Don Camilo

No idea. Maybe the wish to accommodate the spanish speaking customers

About the english only, no idea

Well, you don't like it, but it gives you a reason to learn spanish

coolasme87

Well The Only Thing I can Think is that If I'm correct Mexicans Make up a large portion of the population of the United states. Myself i Think it's a great idea. That way they can feel comfortable going out to shop and not have to worry about asking how much something is or seeing about a product without the confusion. Mexico Doesn't have a English only wal mart because there's not a high demand for one. i'm sure if we made up a majority of the population in a city they would probably build one.

The Bad Guy Razor Ramon

Hey Yo:

Mexicans and Argentinans are not the only Spanish Speaker here!!!!

There are a lot of people from Spain, Central and South America who wants to buy and need Spanish help. The Spanish market is Large, check your map in google earth. Wal-mart are using a Marketing Strategy for to get spanish speaker customer from everywhere!!

bye

The Bad Guy Razor Ramon

Janice Williams

Should we add road signs in Spanish too? Although, if they do open one specifically for Mexicans, then I will shop there as their things are cheaper than ours. If you go into Winco stores, look at the spices. Then glance down on the very bottom shelf and you will see the Mexican spices are only $0.50 and in a bigger container. But if you buy the spices on the upper shelf for the same product, you will pay about $1.53 to $2.27. But, what I really want to say, is go home Mexicans, we don't need you running into our vehicles and having no insurance coverage or drivers license and we don't need our things stolen that we have worked for.

Joseph

By broadening their consumer base to the Hispanic population (which is becoming huge) they will make a considerable more amount of money; and people making this into a race thing are idiots. It's nothing more than a ploy to make more money, if you want to analyze that as anything else then you're an idiot as well. On another note: The LEGAL Hispanic population is of considerable size as well.

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