Walmart is looking to grow. Yes, grow. Their latest initiative, “Project Impact,” aims to make stores easier and quicker to navigate, improve customer service, and to move in on competitors’ territory as much as possible.

Project Impact calls for remodeling about 70% of Walmarts in the next five years, and improving sales in major competitors’ fields, such as toys and crafts. So long, Toys ‘R Us, it was nice knowing you.

“They’ve got Kmart ready to take a standing eight-count next year,” says retail consultant Burt Flickinger III, managing director for Strategic Resources Group and a veteran Walmart watcher. “Same with Rite Aid. They’ve knocked out four of the top five toy retailers, and are now going after the last one standing, Toys “R” Us. Project Impact will be the catalyst to wipe out a second round of national and regional retailers.”

Which would you rather have—a bigger, more pleasant Walmart, or more competing retailers in your area?
Walmart’s Latest Move to Crush the Competition [Newsweek] (Thanks to everyone who sent this in!)

(Photo: genebob)

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