Additional Information on Big Box Retail

U.S Census Retail Data (1992 - 2002) - This report from the Census Bureau provides an enormous quantity of information on the retail and food trades that may be helpful for both challenging a big box and establishing baselines for Economic Impact Studies.

Sprawl-Busters - Home of the now nationally famous Sprawl-Busters Consulting. The site includes a rather lengthy excerpt from Al Norman’s book, Slam-Dunking Wal-Mart, entitled “The Case Against Sprawl.”

Shils Report - Impact of Mega-Retail Discount Chains on American Small Businesses - This site offers Professor Edward Shill’s 250 page report on the extensive and prolonged impacts of Big Box superstores. This report is must reading for anyone fighting a big box retailer.

The Wal-Mart Story - The Big Box Corporation’s interpretation of its own history. A romanticized retelling of Sam Walton’s dream up to the present day. Absent is the mention of any partnership with communities to lessen the environmental and economic destruction caused by its Big Box stores. Wal-Mart.com represents another example of how superstore chains marshal their tremendous resources to evoke a good public image.

Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Comes to Town - The web site for the PBS special by the same name. An excellent site.

Lawmall - This site decribes itself as “A Unique Antitrust Website for Fighting Unlawful Price Discrimination (under the Robinson-Patman Act), Wal-Mart Expansion, Globalization Concerns and Related Matters, Including Prosecutorial Abuse.” We agree.

Wal-Mart Watch - If you hate Wal-Mart, you will love this site.

More to come, check back soon...