Wal-Mart has been America's staple since July 2, 1962, when Sam Walton opened the first Wal-Mart Discount City store. Within a few years, Wal-Mart Discount City stores began to spread across the country. In 1968, it opened its first stores outside of Arkansas, in Sikeston, Missouri and Claremore, Oklahoma. Sam Walton has found success by providing consumers with options and variety. Since that first store opened, Wal-Mart has moved into the grocery business and now controls about 20% of the grocery and consumables retail business. That says a lot for a man who began his career in retail after just 18 months at JC Penny. Sam Walton found success early on by offering variety and options when no one else was. Consumers want more for their money and Wal-Mart has focused its attention on this idea and has not apologized for it. In fact, Wal-Mart's sole existence is based on consumers' search for the cheapest products. Wal-Mart has grown from just a variety store to Wal-Mart Supercenter and has other chains, including Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market and Sam's Club. Wal-Mart Inc. has found a way to offer consumers options not traditionally offered in grocery stores. By offering options such as an optical center, a one-hour photo processing lab, Tire & Lube Express and even, in some cases, hair and nail salons, pet stores and pharmacies, Wal-Mart has has taken steps to break the mold and offer consumers options that other stores can't and has done a good job of doing so. With these types of options, you could stay in a Wal-Mart for hours and complete all your afternoon shopping. This idea is not lost on Wal-Mart Inc., now offering the ability to obtain a money order at ATMs. also why Wa...... middle of paper ...... gas price cheaper than its local competitors. Wal-Mart also donated more than $1.5 million to the National Backpack Program, the nation's network of food banks will deliver backpacks filled with nutritious, protein-rich foods to schoolchildren in need . Thanks to the money raised, thousands of backpacks filled with much-needed food for schoolchildren to take home. He helped raise funds and awareness about hunger, with a “Be Part of the Solution to End Hunger” campaign. Wal-Mart Inc has done a great job of bringing together what is local to the area and what is not and that brings it into many small towns. So when a Wal-Mart stands up, it's not just Wal-Mart Inc that benefits, but the community. .com/http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html