NOTE: this column was written about 1 1/2 years ago. The rumors are still persistant but the proof remains to be seen.
What started out as a little research project turned into something that required a couple of strong drinks to relieve the throbbing in my temples. I am now also on the lookout for a team of hit men from Arkansas.
Today, I’m going to mess with that staple of American life, Wal-Mart.
This all began after several people inquired if we had heard rumors that Wal-Mart is getting out of the fishing tackle business. We had indeed heard the gossip and felt it would be a simple matter to track down the information from a credible source and share it with both of our regular readers.
If you would like both an entertaining and frightening look at world, simply make an internet search for Wal-Mart. I knew there were a number of people who do not like Wal-Mart’s business practices but the depth and breadth of their hatred is truly scary. On the other hand, I will agree that there are instances where the company isn’t exactly a paragon of corporate virtue.
Therein lays the rub for an erstwhile outdoor writer. On any topic that has become so emotionally charged it becomes difficult to track down factual information, especially on the Disinformation Superhighway. Regardless, we plowed through those rough waters on our journey of discovery.
As far as the general debate of the overall good or evil of Wal-Mart, I’ll refrain from expressing too many personal opinions. Let’s just say that I don’t agree with many of their policies but I also don’t believe that their chairman of the board is Satan himself. The reader can make up his or her own mind from there.
The story is simple. According to many, many sources, Wal-Mart has told fishing industry leaders that they will begin phasing out fishing tackle throughout the chain beginning this fall. In a few hundred stores, fishing tackle will be altogether eliminated while it will be considered a seasonal item in many others. A smaller percentage will remain unchanged.
Essentially, if you believe the rumors, you will only find fishing tackle at Wal-Mart whenever the lawnmowers and swim toys are also on store shelves. Is this a good thing or a bad thing in the long run? We will not weigh in on that controversial subject except to mention that Wal-Mart is where a very large percentage of Americans purchase at least some of their fishing gear.
So after researching the matter for several hours, including a stop at the local store to make discreet inquires of the clerks, I will go squarely on record to say without any hesitation: the rumors may or may not be true.
Though there have been many alleged sources for this story, I can find no single credible person that has officially gone on record to say that fishing tackle is history at Wal-Mart. There are countless thousands of blog posts, message board discussions and a few published reports referencing unnamed sources but there is no official published evidence at this writing that confirms the report is true.
There have also been numerous allegations that Wal-Mart will pull out of the title sponsorship of numerous FLW fishing tournament series after the 2008 season. This rumor has been around for several years and chasing it down proved even less productive.
Having made the point that this entire story is made up of conjecture, rumor, innuendo and educated guesses, there are a few things that also point to its credibility.
There are numerous references from business journals about Wal-Mart’s attempt to responding to the ever-changing marketplace and the threat presented by archrival Target stores. One interesting concept discussed is the idea that the company essentially serves three distinct markets: rural, suburban and urban. According to industry watchers, the rural (smaller cities and towns) market is considered saturated while suburban and urban areas are now the prime targets. This pursuit has led to an ‘upscaling’ in stores such as the affluent Dallas suburb of Plano, Texas.
If company focus shifts towards the urban market, it seems reasonable that less emphasis will be placed on items such as fishing tackle, camping gear and other so-called ‘rural supplies’. Some of the conspiracy theorists believe this is part of a grand plan to make us more government dependant until the big one-world government takeover. Today, treble hooks; tomorrow, prison camps.
Did I mention it’s hard enough to track down legitimate information without the kooks of the world muddying up the internet with their “from a good source”-ramblings?
In the end this columnist is willing to bet that outdoor gear will begin to disappear from the world’s largest retailer, much like firearms already have from a significant percentage of stores.
I also plan on picking up some clearance-sale bobbers on my way to the secret government internment camp.
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Wal-Mart: are they, or aren’t they?
Posted by Brent on 2/28/10 • Categorized as Fish/Hunt,Out in the Open columns
NOTE: this column was written about 1 1/2 years ago. The rumors are still persistant but the proof remains to be seen.
What started out as a little research project turned into something that required a couple of strong drinks to relieve the throbbing in my temples. I am now also on the lookout for a team of hit men from Arkansas.
Today, I’m going to mess with that staple of American life, Wal-Mart.
This all began after several people inquired if we had heard rumors that Wal-Mart is getting out of the fishing tackle business. We had indeed heard the gossip and felt it would be a simple matter to track down the information from a credible source and share it with both of our regular readers.
If you would like both an entertaining and frightening look at world, simply make an internet search for Wal-Mart. I knew there were a number of people who do not like Wal-Mart’s business practices but the depth and breadth of their hatred is truly scary. On the other hand, I will agree that there are instances where the company isn’t exactly a paragon of corporate virtue.
Therein lays the rub for an erstwhile outdoor writer. On any topic that has become so emotionally charged it becomes difficult to track down factual information, especially on the Disinformation Superhighway. Regardless, we plowed through those rough waters on our journey of discovery.
As far as the general debate of the overall good or evil of Wal-Mart, I’ll refrain from expressing too many personal opinions. Let’s just say that I don’t agree with many of their policies but I also don’t believe that their chairman of the board is Satan himself. The reader can make up his or her own mind from there.
The story is simple. According to many, many sources, Wal-Mart has told fishing industry leaders that they will begin phasing out fishing tackle throughout the chain beginning this fall. In a few hundred stores, fishing tackle will be altogether eliminated while it will be considered a seasonal item in many others. A smaller percentage will remain unchanged.
Essentially, if you believe the rumors, you will only find fishing tackle at Wal-Mart whenever the lawnmowers and swim toys are also on store shelves. Is this a good thing or a bad thing in the long run? We will not weigh in on that controversial subject except to mention that Wal-Mart is where a very large percentage of Americans purchase at least some of their fishing gear.
So after researching the matter for several hours, including a stop at the local store to make discreet inquires of the clerks, I will go squarely on record to say without any hesitation: the rumors may or may not be true.
Though there have been many alleged sources for this story, I can find no single credible person that has officially gone on record to say that fishing tackle is history at Wal-Mart. There are countless thousands of blog posts, message board discussions and a few published reports referencing unnamed sources but there is no official published evidence at this writing that confirms the report is true.
There have also been numerous allegations that Wal-Mart will pull out of the title sponsorship of numerous FLW fishing tournament series after the 2008 season. This rumor has been around for several years and chasing it down proved even less productive.
Having made the point that this entire story is made up of conjecture, rumor, innuendo and educated guesses, there are a few things that also point to its credibility.
There are numerous references from business journals about Wal-Mart’s attempt to responding to the ever-changing marketplace and the threat presented by archrival Target stores. One interesting concept discussed is the idea that the company essentially serves three distinct markets: rural, suburban and urban. According to industry watchers, the rural (smaller cities and towns) market is considered saturated while suburban and urban areas are now the prime targets. This pursuit has led to an ‘upscaling’ in stores such as the affluent Dallas suburb of Plano, Texas.
If company focus shifts towards the urban market, it seems reasonable that less emphasis will be placed on items such as fishing tackle, camping gear and other so-called ‘rural supplies’. Some of the conspiracy theorists believe this is part of a grand plan to make us more government dependant until the big one-world government takeover. Today, treble hooks; tomorrow, prison camps.
Did I mention it’s hard enough to track down legitimate information without the kooks of the world muddying up the internet with their “from a good source”-ramblings?
In the end this columnist is willing to bet that outdoor gear will begin to disappear from the world’s largest retailer, much like firearms already have from a significant percentage of stores.
I also plan on picking up some clearance-sale bobbers on my way to the secret government internment camp.
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