Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Wal-Mart Affront

In today's Crain's Insider the newsletter reports on the effort that Wal-Mart has launched to coopt the "booty capitalists" that we have been telling one and all about. The title of the Crain's post is "Wal-Mart Front?"

The front in question is the New York State Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and this group is being called out by the established NYS Federation of Hispanic Chambers, a group that actually represents real Hispanic businesses and has existed for decades. As Crain's points out, mirroring our own take on the booty kissing, the Walmonster is looking to replicate its success in Chicago where it used minority contractors to make its first store opening an issue of minority empowerment.

Ominously, Crain's says that Wal-Mart has joined six chambers in the city in its quest to cultivate (purchase?) legitimacy. We expect that there will be an expanded outreach by the company as it continues to scout out locations for stores.