A visit to Bentonville Arkansas , the birthplace of Wal Mart . Stopped by the Walton's 5 and 10 variety store , as well as the first full sized Wal Mart in Rogers and also the grave of Sam Walton.
I worked for Walmart in the mid 90s for a while and also spent twenty years in the retail world . A lot has changed since since Sam Walton started his original stores and even more since his passing . There is no denying the powerhouse it has become or the life of its own the company has taken on . Thanks for watching
Thanks for the history tour, Adam. One day I'd like to make this trip myself. Sam always seemed to have a good heart. It's impossible to imagine what America would be today without Walmart; live it or hate it, it is a huge part of our economy and even our culture. Happy Holidays to you, Sir! Bundle up well, please, we don't want a sick Woo again this season. Happy trails, Matey :)
You were only about 50 miled from me here in Jay Oklahoma. I met Sam at our store here in Jay several years ago. Our Wal-Mart is the smallest one left. And my husband works there. 😁 The first Wal-Mart I went to was in Harrison Ark. I was a kid with my Granny. I was visiting from California. We didn't have them yet. In fact they didn't get them until I was an adult living in Oklahoma. Lol crazy right.
David Emshwiller Do _you_ care enough to type “their” instead of “there?”. I mean,I’m not your typical spelling nazi but you almost make a good point if it weren’t for that small 👌 difference
I just went over 10 years with the company and I'm the son of a 27+ year associate. I kinda grew up inside Walmart since i was 5 in 1991 when she started. A lot has changed since then, but a lot changes every year and every day at companies as massive as this one. But this video really takes me back to a simpler time. Because even in 1991, after being open 30 years, it was still a simple time for Walmart. "We sell for less" and "Our people make the difference" made it so simple.
I agree.even part time employees have to buy thier uniforms. Sad that the heirs are not as humble as he was.greed has replaced humbleness. The interest on cards are outrageous. I'm sure Mr Walton would be shocked. I'm sure that episode on South Park was aimed at the Super Center, Alledgley. I would of been about 13 or 14 when Mr Walton passed. Ok I worked part time only 2 days but they wanted me to buy my uniform, for shame. There was a disagreement. Needless to say. I'm no longer an employee. I am a member of Sam Club. The intrest is killing me. Don't bother looking for me. This phone is for entertainment purposes only. You can still get a refund. On most things.you can still find some bargains. Let's face reality. Everything has gone up. I still have nightmares about the colorful sundree I paid $20.00 for. I washed it in cold water on gentle cycle, all the colors faded.😥😭😩. The next time I washed it, it had holes all in it. Why? I could not get my money back. But I have learned. I stay away from certain things. It was not made in the USA. Maybe just maybe the next Generation will have more compassion, be more Humble. Treat employees with Respect.Alledely. so if you quit, move on. What good is the uniform that you was asked or told you had to buy.?.🤔😐🙄. ✌. 👋. Nj.please don't try to call me. I won't answer. 🙏.
My daughter was treated very well and given a decent wage at the Wal-Mart in Bozeman, Montana. I cannot address how the other stores are, but that one was good to the employees.
Nice to know that Sam Walton was so down to earth... Thanks, Adam, for the backstory intermixed with the present, photos included. This was very interesting and well researched, AS USUAL. 👏🏻👏🏻
The 10 foot rule does not exist today. The “greeters” don’t even say hello when you walk into the stores in my area. They’re just old people sitting on a stool staring at you as you enter and exit. Finding help in the store is difficult, Employees on the floor won’t say a word unless you speak to them first. It’s very sad what the stores have turned into. Sam probably wouldn’t approve. I’d hope not, anyway.
The idea of the greeter started as exactly that, somebody that would greet you and perhaps send you in the right direction if you asked. Then they started giving them security detail as well, and some (most?) of them are now more concerned with that than actually greeting anybody anymore.
Fr at my local Walmart they have stuff locked up behind a glass and theres a button to press for assistance but they never show up when u press it you have to go looking for an employee
Walmart locations buy the land so they get tax breaks for about 10 years... They take business from local stores and dont pay tax. Mostly why walmart is seen as "ghetto" because the areas they are in decrease in money because they dont pay tax like the small businesses they steal business from. Sad 90% of walmart employees are on wellfare.
captancook1 I live in Louisiana and I hardly ever get spoken to positively by Walmart employees. I did have a good experience today when I did a pick up. Rock on sir...keep up great customer service. It’s greatly appreciated!
I remmember Walmart was so good at there job back in the 90s it was like going to a hospital and the nurses were nice to you ..it was a fun place I remember
You seem like a really good guy that sucks that happened to you what I don't like about him is I wash my town die off there's no jobs for the young kids coming up because all the businesses have went out of business cuz Walmart supplies everything and to me that's monopolize and we lost a lot of jobs in Industry because they started buying things from overseas and selling them because they'd get them cheaper and could sell them cheaper but I feel like Sam wanted quality along with cheapness and when you buy overseas you don't get the quality and a lot of people lost their jobs over this stuff
I worked for Wal-Mart in the 1990's as well (leaving in 1998)....I always found the history fascinating. Sam was the back bone of the company, and to this day feel his presence in every Wal-Mart I enter. It was a sad day for many of us that worked the day he died. I also recall a story about that first Wal-Mart you showed on opening day! Something about donkeys and watermelons! hahahahha
I believe he would if he had've went back to his AdamtheWoo channel and started doing videos on it again which is what I thought he intended, but He has his reasons. He had a great number of Subscribers on his first channel as well. He has a lot on this one too but I think the original still does well. I watch a lot of his old classics from time to time.
When Mister Sam ran things.... Wal-Mart was good..... now.... it is just too money hungry and greedy. If you saw Mister Sam.... you would never guess he was a multi-millionaire..... always drove that beat up old truck and he always wore overalls and a baseball cap..... and he was a very nice man.... he cared about his customers, unlike today.... glad I got to meet him.... he came when store 2 opened.... and often popped in to see how things were going. After he got too old to run the business every day and his family took over.... Wal-Mart went to crap!
LadyDragonsblood Same could be said about Walt Disney and how Disney is today. Greedy and need every property. Walt wasn't about that. He wanted kids and adults to have fun.
+Vicky Abramowitz Mr. Sam was proud to sell items made in America because he thought that Americans made the best products. But after he died, people with other ideas took over and had items made for cheaper prices overseas. I don't understand much about business practices but I've always heard that companies with publicly traded stock want to keep their stockholders happy by increasing their dividends. To do that, they have to increase their profit margins. One really good way to do this is have products made overseas that cost less to make. Then stockholders get an increase in their dividends. I think I remember that Wal-Mart didn't have stockholders till Mr. Sam died. If that's true, then Mr. Sam only needed to keep his customers happy.
So awesome! Back in my warehouse days, never would have imagined so much history just packing and shipping cameras to Walmart. This in-depth coverage is why Adam is the best. Join him, shall you? Yes you should!
Only about 1/10th of where it is today, he didn't grow it into the $500 billion it is today, his heirs did. When he died it was less than $100 billion, and they made sure it was going to grow to unheard of heights, primarily with super centers. They had explosive growth in the 90's, especially after he died in 1992, and the biggest reason- super centers. They've now nearly abandoned or expanded every store into a super center, and when he was alive less than 10% of their entire fleet were those massive behemoths.
A good one Adam!! Loved the museum too, especially seeing his pickup truck with the teeth marks on the steering wheel!! I enjoyed reading his book as well!! Have a great weekend!!
Thanks Adam for showing this and taking us back in time.I think he’s buried in a beautiful spot.He was a quiet humble man so I’m sure he’s resting nicely in death with Helen at his side.I retired last year from store 0639 Brunswick GA.I put in 17 years with the company working at 3 stores and 1 Sams Club.I think I did well and I’m enjoying my retirement.Now I can do the thing I love most -go fishing.Have a great one and will catch you in your next video.❤️💖
This is why I love watching your videos, sir. I am stuck on the North East Coast where nostalgia is bulldozed every few years in the name of progress. It's nice to see the recent history of the mid-west. When I see old plazas, even in videos, my younger heart skips a beat. I could never thank you enough for what you produce here Mr. Woo. I've always loved your spirit ever since I found your channel many, many eons ago.
I remember having a 5 & 10 store when I was little in my town it was my favorite place to shop with my parents... I wished there were all still around...😭 😭
Say what you will about Wal-Mart; it enabled me to buy enough to keep my kids fed and clothed after my husband died. Years later, my daughter worked in a Wal-mart for a lot of really nice supervisors. She'd had trouble with employment due to a degree of autism, and they gave her a chance. She was treated fairly and got good hours and raises. She became an asset to them and she benefited as well. Is it a big corporation? Sure. Are there stores that are run less well? Sure. But for my experience, Wal-Mart has been good to my family.
Worked from 1988 thru 2000 at Wal-Mart in Management and things definitely changed after Sam died. I remember the day he passed. They came over the intercom and announced in all stores. Lucky enough to meet him right after I started working at Wal-Mart as a stockman.
not right away though, because he died in 1992, and around 1994 is when you started to see the change in the company- those kids wanted nothing but super centers, super centers, and more super centers! I watched so many of their older stores either get expanded, or abandoned in favor of a super center. It's all about making them bigger and bigger and bigger today to compete with everyone. When Sam died only like 10% of their entire fleet were super centers, and today if you take out Sam's Club and Neighborhood Markets it's over 90% super centers!
I worked at Walmart in 86 And got the pleasure of meeting mr Sam Walton and shaking his hand.. He always wore a red white and blue tie.. Very good man.
My family and I really enjoyed this piece about Sam Walton and his legacy, as well as you sharing tour memories with the Wal'. Thanks for another adventure Adam, keep em coming dude. 😎
When I went to that museum they had an additional truck out front that was a replica. I guess they move that for the winter. But that little museum exceeded my expectations and it's free unless you buy something like you and I did. I love old town squares like that though.
This was incredibly interesting! I am very curious to learn more about Sam Walton now. It sounds like he tried to empathize more with the associates when he was alive. Thanks for another fascinating video!
Hey Adam, I enjoyed this a lot. I always love to visit museums. This was very interesting and I learned a lot. I would definitely like to visit here one day. I worked for Walmart in the nineties also as a cashier where I live here in Georgia Thank you for taking me on this great tour. I have never seen one of the Walmart on the go little stations before. That looked pretty cool. Love all that you do. ❤️
We visited Branson last summer. While in the area we drove down to Bentonville to have a look around. We were really impressed with the town. The museum was very interesting. We really enjoyed our time spent there. Thanks for showing how nice the town is Adam.
Sorry to read the comments about rude Walmart employees. At my local Walmarts the workers are very pleasant and helpful. Of course, I am polite and patient, especially when the store is busy. It works both ways.
I also worked at a Walmart in the state of Montana. I was hired to work in one building, then a supercenter opened in Polson. I went there. I work for the company for a total of five years in nine different departments. Excellent video. 👍
At least the Disney company still adheres to Walt's original requirements of cast members. Walmart hasn't stuck by Walton's. 10 Foot Rule? Yeah right. They walk right by you, sometimes with disgusted looks on their faces.
Great video, Adam I miss Americana, if ever in this area I will have to stop by. And remember Ben Franklin stores and so many retail stores gone. Shame company is ruthless to small local business. Big change from what Sam started. Don't think been in a Wal-marts in over a decade.
Before1950 there was NO WALMART -imagine! How many of your fans weren't even born then? RememberMontgomery Ward, MurphyMart, the big KMart, Penney's catalogue? How times change!
My grandmother retired from Montgomery Wards and I really miss that store. I still have a VCR from them that works and I can't get rid of it because I want to see how long it lasts.
My son lived there for awhile and we visited there as well as driving by Walton's house and our first Superstore. Thanks for the revisit. Safe travels😎
I worked at Walmart for 8 years I will tell you corporate has no idea of what they r doing. Workers are now sad. Management is treated hard and corporate has ruined it. So sad.
Thank you, I enjoyed this. I worked for Sams Club in Lakeland, FL when I was 18 and 19. Sam came to visit our store and held a barbeque for us. He showed up in his truck and wearing his ball cap.
Pretty cool video. My ex brother in law was a walmart manager for several years and got to meet Sam a couple of times when he inspected his store and in Arkansas. Really a nice down to earth guy. Real shame that Sam's family disrespected him and everything the company stood for so much that they took the Wal-mart company that their father Sam founded, loved, took such pride in and turned it into the greedy money grubbing operation with no respect for it;s workers or customers. One of the richest retailers in the world but too cheap to hire enough workers to keep the shelves stocks because all they care about is big bonuses for the top personnel. . They have money to constantly change the packaging on GV products. They have money to constantly move whole aisles of product on seemingly a monthly basis around the store but none to keep product on the shelves. They have their priorities screwed up. When Sam was still alive you got greeted when you came in the store . There were associates in all the departments that stocked merchandise, helped customers and were back up people for the registers because Sam had signs over each register that said if three or more people are in line at one register they would open more registers. Sam was VERY customer focused. It wasn't uncommon for Sam to show up unannounced at a Walmart have a look see and fire the manager if he didn't like what he saw. It was his reputation on the line and he didn't like his people spitting on it. If Sam was to magically come to life today he go on a mass firing operation for the sad state of his stores and management of the company in general.
Oh yeah they're keeping the tradition going Walmart in FEMA has built 860 concentration camps across the United States y'all need to do research before you talk
@@stellasimpson3105 stfu youvconspiracy laden know nothing. You want to know something? Prove it before you spout your count off. Dumbass trumpet prepper
I worked for Wal-Mart in Fulton, Kentucky and got to meet Sam in the late 70's. I worked in a Supercenter beginning in 1995 and we were taught the 10 foot rule then. It was fun to see a Supercenter from start to finish and grand opening. Great job on the vlog!!
There were many, many discount department store chains prior to Wal-mart. Sole proprietor stores on Main St were gone long before Walmart arrived in most parts of the country.
I don't think SAM would agree the way things were run today. If you have ever worked for Walmart, you might feel like employees come last, many are even abused by their Assistant managers, It's just like many other companies, its a popularity contest, if you're liked you're in, if you aren't liked for whatever reason, you're out. It's no different from any other mega company, one hand doesn't know what the other hand is doing. These days any job is a great job if you can keep your head down and deal with all the bullshit, easier said than done isn't it lol
I know several husband and wife teams with kids who both work at the same wal mart and take every call for work they get. they have families. 2 to 5 children and they are on food stamps with shitty or their health care is the ACA which is better than nothing but the copay is out of this world unless you can afford to pay a premium of 300 month on top of what they are giving you free and even then there is a huge gap between a regular doctor visit and stuff in between something serious like specialist , x rays, blood tests and other things. you still get stuck with a 4 or 5 grand a year bill if you have some one in the family that needs a lot of special care. Two people dedicating their lives to a company shouldn't be on public assistance. Just another form of corporate welfare to keep wages down and lobbyist in jobs and politicians that become millionaires in a short few years after election on a 180k salary. i never could figure out how that happens.
This is awesome, I just watched from a Walmart! I really enjoyed this man. It’s just one of those stores that no matter your opinion of it, you just happen to find yourself going back again and again. I buy my Bella the 0’Roy doggie treats. That’s what I just picked up. Ha!
RhettyforFun I always think of that scene to, and it actually entered my mind when I was watching this video cause I just watched it a couple nights ago. Also, I remembered your video that YOU did here dude :) It was awesome
Just wow Adam. You are fantastic at what you do. In a world of cynicism I so enjoy you sharing your appreciation for the fantastic world we all walk through.
Don’t forgot about all the customers that left them too. Walmart didn’t kill mom-and-pop businesses as much as their former customers did. There are still plenty of thriving small businesses but it takes good owners as well as loyal customers.
Sounded like you said Bensonville in the intro. I've been working for Walmart for 25 years. Seen many changes in that time there. Most of them for the worst.
I use to work for sam's club for 11 yrs I started it on 2008 at that time we where about 27 people working night crew my last yr we where 12 total every yr it got worst now they don't have night crew
Would be neat to see Costco were it came from... I like the owners view point "people say how can you sell a hot dog and a pop for $1.50? I'd like to see if I can get the price lower" Its already a steal!
Michael Paul, The Kmart near me is horrible, I worked there in the 1990’s and it was demoralizing! Work hours were all over the place, never knew when I’d get a break, co-workers quitting nearly every day! (I still have nightmares about the wacky scheduling!!) Endless Rain-checks, because we NEVER had the Sale Items in stock!
I worked for a vendor who’s founder knew Sam. Sam was so humble, he would fire any of his management staff that showed up flaunting a new car or home. He never wanted anyone to think or show they were better then the common employee. And to think how much bigger Kmart was just going into the 90’s? Walmart figured it out faster. Love them or hate them, there here to stay.
Been addicted to these videos for a while now , crazy to see 6/7 years ago until now ! And your little grey beard is arriving I see. 😆😆 happens to us all as we are the same age ! Sending wishes from the UK ❤️❤️
William Wilbur We had a Ben Franklin in Irving Texas. My mom used to pick up Knick knacks like marbles or little airplanes and given them to us if we didn’t get our name on the board.
I remember Ben Franklin's.😍 We had one here in our village in N.E. Ohio. My mother got everything from there. For me the 1cent candy aisle was the best. I was devastated when it closed down.😢