Dress up for Wal-Mart

[darck]

I saw this on the web and thought I'd share it with this forum:

[qasimkhan]

Yet another reason not to shop at Dollar Palace!

[guitone]

Yet another reason not to shop at Dollar Palace!

Or walmart

[Maggio]

That's funny. What was the premise of the article?

[AlanC]

Hilarious (really)

[hreljan]

I would also like to know what activity or place "or something" after Walmart refers to?

[vwguy]

Yikes, I wonder how bad peple dress when shopping at the Dollar Palace considering I have seen people at Wal-Mart who literally rolled out of bed still wearing their PJs, slippers and full on bed head.

Brian

[mpcsb]

I always put on my "good" flip-flops when I go to walmart.

[Srynerson]

That's funny. What was the premise of the article?

I looked up the circled quote in LexisNexis and found the complete article (it appears to be from a Shreveport, LA paper):

Daily Town Talk

April 21, 2005 Thursday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 13A

LENGTH: 685 words

HEADLINE: Dollar store war?

BYLINE: Robert Morgan

BODY:
Local store finds success and major competition
By Robert Morgan

Kenneth Williams opened a store on Lower Third Street in Alexandria when no one else was looking to do business in the area.

Now he's looking at direct competition as a national discount chain is building a store right across the street from where he opened his new Dollar Palace at 2500 Third St.

Williams said he's been doing his homework, preparing for that competition from the new Family Dollar store that will open later this year.

Family Dollar, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., has 5,600 stores in 44 states, according to its Web site.

Florence Stanley, spokeswoman for Family Dollar, said, "It looks like we're targeting a late summer opening, probably August."

The store will be of average size, a total of 9,100 square feet with 7,700 square feet of sales area, Stanley said.

Family Dollar has three other stores in Alexandria and one in Pineville.

The size of the corporation he'll be competing against has not escaped Williams, who said, "They are a multi-billion-dollar company. We (Williams and his wife) are just two little people here."

But standing this week in the store he built from a former auto parts business, he said, "I am cautiously optimistic. A lot of our customers have said they will not shop (at Family Dollar)."

He said there is a sense of community loyalty because Williams chose to invest in a business on Lower Third at a time when major companies would not.

In a letter to The Town Talk published Monday, Iradean Dupar-Gatson suggested the new business smacked of unfair competition because it will be part of a national chain.

While some members of the community agreed that it hardly seems fair that a national chain would open a store across the street after Williams took risks to get his business started, those interviewed by The Town Talk said they probably will shop at both stores.

"Well, I was talking to Kenneth, the owner, about it the other day. He said (Family Dollar) looked at it two years ago and decided not to open a store because they didn't think it was safe. I guess they feel like it's all right now," Malcolm LeFears of Alexandria said.

LeFears, who said he shops at the Dollar Palace almost daily, said, "I don't think it's fair. They wouldn't take the chance he did."

But he said, "I'll probably shop at both of them. I know (Family Dollar) has more clothes than he does."

Viola Coutee of Alexandria said she shops at the Dollar Palace "quite often" and likes the store.

Coutee said the new Family Dollar store will be competition for the Dollar Palace.

"I hope it doesn't bring them down," she said.

She said, however, she already shops at other Family Dollar stores in Alexandria and will probably shop at both Williams' business and the new store when it opens.

"I just think it's wrong. It's hurting the little man," Edward Jackson of Alexandria said.

But, like the others, Jackson said, "I'll shop both of them."

Debra Jackson of Alexandria said she sees nothing unfair about the new store locating on Lower Third Street.

Debra Jackson said she likes shopping at the Dollar Palace because it is convenient and casual.

"I don't have to get all dressed up like I'm going to Wal-Mart or something," she said, adding she shops at Williams' store "to pick up my cleaning supplies."

She said, "I'll shop at both of them, whatever's convenient for me. I'm not going to pick and choose between them."

Stanley said her company surveyed the community before deciding to build a new store.

"We found the consumers there that are looking for quality products at low prices, (such as) the merchandise we carry," she said.

Williams said his shelves are stocked with many items that are requested by customers.

"We carry a lot of items that are geared to the community," he said. "They're not going to do that."

Still, he said, Family Dollar stores that are already in Alexandria carry some items at lower prices than his store does.

"We are lower on some items than they are. And we carry items they won't carry," Williams said.

GRAPHIC: Kenneth Williams is cautiously optimistic his store, Dollar Palace on Lower Third Street, will continue to do well after Family Dollar opens a new store right across the street. Leandro Huebner, The Town Talk; Eddie Winston Jr. with Patrick's Post Tension of Shreveport installs rebar in the foundation of the new Family Dollar store under construction on Lower Third Street. It is expected to open in late summer. Tia Owens-Powers, The Town Talk

LOAD-DATE: April 22, 2005

[Wayfarer]

That was just precious but it goes to show, once again, perspective in life is everything. What is scornful or paltry to some, is an item of pride and impressive to someone else. I guess one man's Sizzler is another man's Ruth's Chris is another man's "Members Only". We should all be thankful for what we have.

Warmest regards

[Morris]

As a shareholder, whether she dresses up or down, is of minor concern to me ... as long as she purchase more products at her friendly, neighborhood Wal-Mart.

[familyman]

That was just precious but it goes to show, once again, perspective in life is everything. What is scornful or paltry to some, is an item of pride and impressive to someone else. I guess one man's Sizzler is another man's Ruth's Chris is another man's "Members Only". We should all be thankful for what we have.

Warmest regards

Reminds me of my childhood. Red Lobster was as good as it got for eating out. I didn't even know there were nicer places. We got as dressed up as we could for that time or two a year that my parents took the 5 kids out. It wasn't until college that I figured out where Red Lobster actually fit in. Bit of a shock really. It is all about perspective.

[JLibourel]

I have never heard of either the "Dollar Palace" or the "Family Dollar" until this very moment. Are they regional?

I have only set foot in a Wal-Mart maybe four or five times in my life. I do not recall the shoppers setting a very high sartorial standard, however. It is hard to see how one could go much lower unless these other establishments permit nudism! On the other other hand, I have not been able to discern a noticeable difference between the apparel of the Wal-Mart/Target/Costco shoppers and a huge percentage of the customers at such upscale retail venues as South Coast Plaza, Rodeo Drive and Fashion Island.

[Bradford]

IMHO - Dollar Palace is in trouble.

JLibourel, Family Dollar is based out of N.C. and up until recently, one of my cousins was the co-pilot of their corporate jet. They've expanded across the country fairly rapidly, recently adding a number of stores here in Arizona and other Southwestern states. I don't know if they are in California yet, but they are a rapidly expanding chain that does a lot of smart research before picking markets and locations. From what I understand, they are doing very well.

Oh, and my cousin had an opportunity to move to Hawaii, so she left her position at Family Dollar, opened an underwater photography business and recently got married and had a baby.

[Howard]

So Then what's the dress code for Wal Mart?

[pendennis]

So Then what's the dress code for Wal Mart?

"Big Smith" overalls, and appropriate chambray shirt, "Mail Pouch" ball cap, and original Herman Survivors.

[Howard]

"Big Smith" overalls, and appropriate chambray shirt, "Mail Pouch" ball cap, and original Herman Survivors.

Wouldn't that be underdressed?

[pkincy]

I saw this on the web and thought I'd share it with this forum:

I wonder if Debra's Husband goes home to take off his wing tips to put on plain toe Bluchers if he is going to WalMart after 6 pm?

Perry

[pkincy]

JLibourel, Family Dollar is based out of N.C. and up until recently, one of my cousins was the co-pilot of their corporate jet.

Oh, and my cousin had an opportunity to move to Hawaii, so she left her position at Family Dollar, opened an underwater photography business and....

I see the title of a book here...From 40,000 feet in the sky to 40,000 leagues beneath the sea.

Perry

[AlanC]

Well, Family Dollar doesn't hold a light to Kentucky founded Dollar General.

[gng8]

Last week I stopped in a Wal-Mart to buy some eyeglass cleaner while on the way to work. I was the only person in the store wearing a tie, not to mention, my suit, pocket square and AE bals--brown.

I could feel the stares.

[acidicboy]

well, you've got to make sure your velour track suit is fully canvassed and your flipflops be goodyear welted if you don't like other people staring you down.

[StevenRocks]

For the full-tilt luxury experience, you must vist Dollar-Duz-It. They only have about five stores, but it adds to the exclusivity. And the customer fashion choices are sublime LOL

[Howard]

Why do people feel a need to get dressed up while going into a Wal Mart,It looks so silly.

[Preu Pummel]

This was so hilarious I had to necro.