Checking Out Walmart
Patel describes supermarkets as patented inventions that respond to a specific need at the time and place of their conception. This essay develops this assertion by explicating Walmart as a tightly curated set of variances reflective of the socioeconomics and culture of the geographical space it inhabits. The Quintessential American Experience
The first thing one sees when walking toward the superstore in Waterville is the American Flag hoisted on top of the building, waving in the wind. For the past two decades, Walmart has marketed itself as a space for the consumer to “Buy American.” However, to Buy American is not only a consumer choice, but also a consumer culture. To Buy American is to step into the store, carefully …show more content…
The push to spend on cookies is further heightened by Walmart’s choice to play Christmas carols as muzak. Second, the range of the prices of the confections is significant because it lends insight into the economic variance of consumers at Walmart. To the average, middle-class consumer, 4$ wouldn’t mean much. However, to the consumer earning a minimum wage of 12$ an hour in Maine, 4$ is a sizeable amount of their income to pay for cookies. Hence, by labelling both 0.50$ and 4$ as steeply discounted prices for Christmas confections, Walmart hails at consumers from various economic strata. While this is in line with the joy of giving, it is pertinent to note that the only Winter festival that Walmart offers low prices for is the Christian festival of Christmas: not Hanukkah or Pancha Ganapati. Walmart’s choice to play Christmas carols and deck its halls with Christmas goods is a decision reflective of its knowledge of its demographic: Kennebec County is 97.6% White and largely
Christian. Therefore, it is more profitable for the company to capitalize on the Christmas spirit and offer discounted prices on Christmas trees, as opposed to
Patel describes supermarkets as patented inventions that respond to a specific need at the time and place of their conception. This essay develops this assertion by explicating Walmart as a tightly curated set of variances reflective of the socioeconomics and culture of the geographical space it inhabits. The Quintessential American Experience
The first thing one sees when walking toward the superstore in Waterville is the American Flag hoisted on top of the building, waving in the wind. For the past two decades, Walmart has marketed itself as a space for the consumer to “Buy American.” However, to Buy American is not only a consumer choice, but also a consumer culture. To Buy American is to step into the store, carefully …show more content…
The push to spend on cookies is further heightened by Walmart’s choice to play Christmas carols as muzak. Second, the range of the prices of the confections is significant because it lends insight into the economic variance of consumers at Walmart. To the average, middle-class consumer, 4$ wouldn’t mean much. However, to the consumer earning a minimum wage of 12$ an hour in Maine, 4$ is a sizeable amount of their income to pay for cookies. Hence, by labelling both 0.50$ and 4$ as steeply discounted prices for Christmas confections, Walmart hails at consumers from various economic strata. While this is in line with the joy of giving, it is pertinent to note that the only Winter festival that Walmart offers low prices for is the Christian festival of Christmas: not Hanukkah or Pancha Ganapati. Walmart’s choice to play Christmas carols and deck its halls with Christmas goods is a decision reflective of its knowledge of its demographic: Kennebec County is 97.6% White and largely
Christian. Therefore, it is more profitable for the company to capitalize on the Christmas spirit and offer discounted prices on Christmas trees, as opposed to