How BIG is Walmart? (2.2 million employees!)

Summary

This video explores the incredible growth and size of Walmart, tracing its origins from humble beginnings under Sam Walton in 1962 to becoming one of the largest companies in the world. With over 2.2 million employees and stores spanning 27 countries, Walmart dominates the retail industry. The video highlights Walmart's extraordinary revenue, influence on American consumers, and its massive physical presence. It also touches on the legacy of Walton's small-town values, despite the company's shift towards corporate efficiency. Walmart’s dominance and its impact on the global economy are truly mind-blowing.

Takeaways

• 😀 Walmart is a multinational retail giant with over 2.2 million employees, making up almost 10% of Australia's population.
• 😀 90% of Americans live within 15 miles of a Walmart, illustrating its extensive reach across the U.S.
• 😀 Walmart was founded by Sam Walton in 1962 in Arkansas, who carried a strong belief in small-town values and community focus.
• 😀 Despite its humble beginnings, Walmart's first store faced challenges, including a mishap with watermelons and donkeys during its opening day.
• 😀 The 1970s marked Walmart's rapid growth, reaching its first billion-dollar year by 1979.
• 😀 By 1987, Walmart had built the largest private satellite communications network in the U.S.
• 😀 Sam Walton's hands-on approach helped Walmart thrive, and he made it a point to visit stores despite the company's rapid expansion.
• 😀 Walmart's massive size today includes $485 billion in revenue (2014), more than the GDP of Austria, and surpasses other giants like Apple, Amazon, and Coca-Cola combined.
• 😀 If Walmart were a country, it would have the 26th largest economy in the world, demonstrating its vast economic influence.
• 😀 Walmart's physical presence is staggering: 900 million square feet of store space, larger than Manhattan, with parking lots the size of Tampa, Florida.
• 😀 The Walton family, owners of Walmart, is one of the wealthiest in the world, with each member worth more than $30 billion.
• 😀 Interestingly, Walmart does not operate in Australia, even though it is one of the largest retailers globally.

Q & A

How many employees does Walmart have?

Walmart has 2.2 million employees, which is nearly 10% of the entire Australian population.

How many Americans live within 15 miles of a Walmart store?

90% of all Americans live within 15 miles of a Walmart store.

Who is the founder of Walmart and what was his background?

The founder of Walmart is Sam Walton. He was born in 1918, grew up on a farm in Oklahoma, and later served as a security supervisor in World War II. He started his retail business in the 1940s and opened the first Walmart store in 1962.

What was Sam Walton's philosophy when starting Walmart?

Sam Walton believed in providing value to small-town communities, respecting everyone, and improving constantly. He focused on offering the lowest prices in retail for rural areas.

How did Walmart's first opening day go in 1962?

Walmart's first opening day in 1962 was a chaotic experience. The watermelons Sam Walton had stacked in front of the store started to pop due to the heat, creating a mess, and the donkey rides for kids were met with unexpected difficulties.

When did Walmart reach its first billion-dollar year?

Walmart reached its first billion-dollar year in 1979.

What major technological advancement did Walmart achieve in the 1980s?

In the 1980s, Walmart built the largest private satellite communications network in the United States.

What was Walmart's revenue in 2014 and how does it compare to Austria's GDP?

In 2014, Walmart's revenue was $485 billion, which was $20 billion more than Austria's GDP.

How much of American grocery spending happens at Walmart?

One in every $4 Americans spend on groceries is spent at Walmart.

How big is Walmart physically in terms of store space and parking lots?

Walmart's total store space is 900 million square feet, which is 150% larger than Manhattan. Its parking lots alone are roughly the size of Tampa, Florida.