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HTMLText_18A58217_0229_ADDA_416B_5B29BCB7BA6D.html = The Walmart Museum
A brief history of the museum that's part of Walmart's history...
The Walmart Museum is as much a part of Walmart’s history as the exhibits and artifacts that it houses. First opened in 1990, the museum was known as the Walmart Visitor Center. But as times changed and the term "Visitor Center" came to refer more to regional, state, and local tourism offices, it became apparent that a name change was needed. And so, today, The Walmart Museum carries on the mission it always has: to honor Walmart’s legacy, demonstrate its core values, and cast a vision of Walmart tomorrow.
“It Has Truly Been a Labor of Love”
The creation of the Walmart Museum was, as Sam Walton put it, "a labor of love" for many associates. Led by Betty Holmes, the team scrupulously documented the beginnings of the Walton family, the growth of Sam Walton as a leader and businessman, and the founding of Walmart. Holmes traveled extensively with Sam, most often by plane with Sam as their pilot. From the architecture to the cabinets’ craftsmanship, the associates involved reminisce to this day about how the museum came together. There were many people involved in the first incarnation of the museum, and many of those also worked as uniformed greeters after its opening.
About Carolyn “Boo” Randolph
The one who served as the museum’s guiding light and expert on all things Walmart was Carolyn "Boo" Randolph. "Boo" as everyone called her, was a warm and omnipresent figure at the museum until her retirement in 2011. In February of that same year, Boo received the prestigious Rabbit Dickerson Award from the Bentonville Chamber of Commerce for her dedication to Walton’s 5&10, an icon of the Bentonville Square. Boo had also been known for her role as cartoon superhero "Shirley Shrinkage" who helped Walmart associates learn how to battle "shrinkage" – unexpected or unexplained inventory loss.
A Very Grand Re-Opening
On May 20, 2011, 2 years of renovation work preserving the Bentonville Square’s two oldest buildings was completed. The Walton’s 5&10 building and the adjacent "Terry Block" building, (both of which comprise the museum complex today) were unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony as the museum celebrated its Grand Re-Opening. Today, The Walmart Museum continues to evolve to serve its visitors, its community, and its mission.
105 N Main Street
Bentonville, AR 72712
(479) 273-1329
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Museum Map
Jump right to your favorite section of the museum by clicking on the yellow spark icon shown on the map to the left.
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Welcome to the online tour of The Walmart Museum.
As you enjoy exploring, we want to make sure you are aware of a few things:
To navigate, use the "move to next display" and "go back to previous display" buttons.
Also, in the lower right part of the screen you will see a set of icons. These icons provide tour use instructions, additional information and ways to jump to different parts of the tour.
As you look around, you will notice various exhibit items highlight yellow when your mouse is over them. This means you can click on them to get a detailed view of the item or content.
TRIVIA!
This tour includes an optional trivia game with questions placed throughout the tour. It will help you learn more about Sam and the Walmart legacy.
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TRIVIA QUESTIONS: {{quiz.score}}/{{quiz.questions.answered}}
Nancy Lee and Thomas Gibson Walton with their sons: Samuel Moore Walton, born March 29, 1918, and James "Bud" Walton, born December 20, 1921.
During World War II, Bud (left) was a fighter pilot on aircraft carrier USS Manila Bay. Sam (right) served in the Army Intelligence Corps.
Sam Walton (center, fifth from right) with fellow newsboys, who worked their way through school delivering the Columbia Missourian on the Univeristy of Missouri campus.
At age 13, Sam (left) was the youngest Eagle Scout in Missouri. In 1932, he used his scout training to rescue Donald Peterson (right) from drowning.
Main Street in the town of Kingfisher, Oklahoma, around the time of Sam's birth in 1918.
Mementos of Sam's youth, including his Eagle Scout pin, U.S. Army medals and insignias.
Sam's yearbook from Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri, 1936. Sam later attended the University of Missouri, graduating with a business degree in 1940.
Sam saved when he accepted a slightly mismatched batch of floor tiles at a lower cost.
The original green and red floor tiles were installed in 1951, and are still there today. You can see the slightly mismatched tiles in the "off" lot that Sam saw as an opportunity to save some money.
When Sam Walton opened his first retail store in Newport, Arkansas, in 1945, he opened a Ben Franklin franchise. Ben Franklin was a chain of variety stores based in Boston, and later, Chicago, that supplied its franchises with the majority of their merchandise. Part of Sam Walton’s success with his Ben Franklin stores was bypassing the middleman and searching for the best deals on merchandise that he could find.
During the renovation in 2010, it was discovered that the century-old roof timbers needed replaced. Part of the original 5&10 ceiling remains intact.
Do you see that black angle on the tiles? There used to be a pull-down staircase to the 2nd floor where Sam kept his extra merchandise. The Walton kids would come to their Dad's store after school to help out. Sam would give them a list of items he needed to be restocked and they would do that, as well as sweep out the store. Alice, the youngest, would often sell popcorn out in front of the store on Saturdays. The whole family took part in making Walton's 5&10 a success.
A couple months later, he purchased the barbershop next door to expand his store to the width it can be seen today. During this remodel, he purchased some red and green tiles for the floor. When his supplier offered a deal on mismatched tiles, Sam jumped at the savings.
Customers were supposed to be looking at the merchandise, after all. These tiles can be seen below, our first example of Every Day Low Cost.
“I’d say if [anyone] could go to
work for Walmart and really
dedicate themselves to the work
that they couldn’t find a better
place to work or a better person
to work for than Sam Walton.”
—Inez Threet, 1990,
one of the first 5&10 associates
Several of Sam Walton’s other Ben Franklin franchises were also re-opened as Walton Family Centers. The stores were outside the Ben Franklin system, which allowed for greater flexibility in sourcing great deals for customers, while still providing them with all the products found in a traditional variety store.
Bentonville's first Walmart store opened in 1974, and within a decade, the Walton’s Family Center closed.
"Most of the stuff that Sam had was upstairs on some old rough board shelves that they had put together to put their merchandise on.
I would go down below after we had gathered up the supplies, and Charlie would drop the merchandise down to me. I would catch it and put it another basket, and then we would put it out on the shelves.
“One day, right in the midst of dropping, Mr. Sam said something to me, and I looked up real quick, and a big old package of toothpaste ricocheted off the side of my head. Tubes went everywhere, and they got quite a laugh out of it.”
—Troy Almand, one of the first associates at Walton’s 5&10 (photo left)
On July 27, 1966, Walton’s 5&10 on the square in Bentonville was closed. On that same day, Walton’s Family Center opened one block north in Midtown Center, a shopping center built approximately where the Neighborhood Market is today.
The Bentonville Walton’s Family Center had to be built around an existing telephone pole that serviced homes north of the store. Bob Bogle, manager of the store, used it to showcase merchandise in the ladies apparel section.
After leaving Newport, the Walton family moved to Bentonville, where Sam Walton purchased the Harrison’s variety store on the west side of the Square. The store, also a Ben Franklin franchise, opened on May 9, 1950.
Among the first associates were Ann Womble, Ruth Keller Smith, Wanda Nichols, and Ruby Parrish, seen in the photograph to the right outside the Walton’s 5&10 store.
The Walmart Museum’s 2011 renovation took the 5&10 building and the building it connected to—the Terry Block Building—down to the original brick walls. During this time, it was discovered that the 5&10 building is the oldest building on the Bentonville Square, dating back to the mid-1800s. The items in this case, were discovered during that renovation.
Walton’s 5&10 was a family project. Sam and Helen Walton’s sons assisted with sweeping and stocking the shelves, and
daughter Alice weighed candy using this scale.
“...we didn’t work them that hard. We just taught them the value of work.
And besides, I needed the help—at the store and at home. I didn’t have time
to mow the lawn, and why should I anyway, with three strapping boys and a
healthy girl available for chores.”
—Sam Walton
“We always worked in the stores. I would sweep the floors and carry boxes
after school, and even more in the summer. I remember just barely having a
driver’s license and driving a truckload of merchandise one night up to that
Ben Franklin in Saint Robert...”
—Rob Walton
“As kids, we all worked for the company in one way or another. I got to
work behind the candy counter or run the popcorn stand when I was five
years old. The business was part of life, and it was always included in the
dinner conversation.”
—Alice Walton
Right, clockwise from top: Jim, Rob, Alice, and John Walton in the mid-1960s
The products in this case are stickered for sale in Walton’s 5&10 and the Walton’s Family Center.
Although the stores sold some food items, they primarily sold general merchandise such as apparel, toys, and household items.
Samuel Moore Walton, 1918-1992, Photo by Bob's Studio
Visitors to The Walmart Museum can usually take a picture with a genuine legend: Betty
Betty is our replica of Sam Walton’s red and white 1979 Ford F150. She sits proudly in front of the building, as a reminder that Sam Walton’s legacy will never leave us.
Betty is named after Betty Kizziar, the Walmart Visitor’s Center associate who bravely drove Sam’s truck for the last time into the Museum building, and to its current display location.
Quail hunting was one of the reasons Sam and Helen settled in Bentonville. Here, one of Sam’s shotguns and his monogrammed hunting bag rest on the bench seat.
If you zoom in you’ll notice the manual windows and “four-on-the-floor” transmission.
On March 17, 1992, America bestowed upon Sam Walton the Presidential Medal of Freedom, it's highest civilian honor, recognizing his contributions to community and country. President George H. W. Bush offered to make the presentation wherever Sam desired. Sam chose to receive the award in Bentonville, surrounded by the associates he loved and believed in. During the ceremony, Sam spoke the words you see displayed here, expressing the mission that still guides Walmart today.
This is the first Walmart ad. It promised plenty of parking, quality products, and low prices - guaranteed. Discount shopping would never be the same.
In 1960, Sam Walton owned nine Ben Franklin variety stores and was doing over a million dollars in business each year. But future prospects for variety stores were limited. "By then, I knew that the discount ideas was the future," he said in 1962, he opened his first Wal-Mart Discount City," in Rogers, Arkansas. Two years later, he opened two more Walmarts, one in Harrison and another in Springdale. From its hub in Bentonville, Walmart expanded into Missouri and Oklahoma, bringing low prices to underserved rural communities. The new stores delighted customers. One newspaper proclaimed, "Cost of living goes down in Claremore, Oklahoma!"
Sam later recalled that in the beginning, "Most folks...were pretty skeptical of the whole concept." In 1962, David Glass, who would join Walmart 14 years later, in 1976, came to the opening of the Walmart in Harrison, Arkansas. His candid impression? "It was the worst retail store I had ever seen."
But Sam saw great opportunity, dedicated associates, and enthusiastic customers. After those first stores opened, he said, "I knew we were on to something I knew in my bones it was going to work."
The ledger entry for November 22, 1963, includes the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
WALTONS, Inc. is changed to WALTON'S MERCANTILE COMPANY, Inc. in this amendment signed by Sam Walton and Bob Bogle, October 21, 1964.
Grand opening of Walmart #2 in Harrison, Arkansas, 1964. The watermelons burst in the 100 degree heat, and the mess was tracked into the store. “It was just horrible.” recalled David Glass.
The first monthly financial statement for "Wal-Mart Store #1," in Rogers, Arkansas, July 1962.
Customers line up for the grand opening of the first Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas on July 2, 1962.
From insect killer to Coleman lanterns, here are some of the typical products sold at Sam and Bud’s growing chain of Ben Franklin stores and Walton’s Family Centers.
Charlie Cate, an early Walmart manager, describes Sam as “a great listener… he had such an inquisitive mind”
From the very beginning, the basic essentials as well as small luxuries were offered at the lowest prices, helping families save money and live better.
Also seen is a Price-tag printing machine used to print "WAL-MART" price stickers. It was made around 1950 by Monarch Marking Systems in Dayton, Ohio.
Bob Bogle, manager of Walton’s 5&10, speaks about the Walton’s children, all of whom worked at the store in the early days.
Walmart associates gather during the re-opening of El Paso store #2201 as new flags are positioned replacing the one in this display case.
The flag displayed in this display case is an important one: it graced the entryway of Walmart store #2201 in El Paso, Texas, on August 3, 2019 - witness to the horror of a mass shooting by a gunman bent on destroying our way of life.
Twenty-two Walmart customers died that day, including family members of several associates. Many other customers and associates were injured in an act of hate towards a community that welcomed immigrants of all stages of citizenship, as well as military families from the Fort Bliss Army base. That day changed Walmart forever.
In response to the shooting Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon wrote to the company's associates:
"When the worst happens, we counter with our best selves. We support each other, pray together, stand firm and heal together.
As it becomes clear that the shooting in El Paso was motivated by hate, we are more resolved than ever to foster an inclusive environment where all people are valued and welcomed."
Scouting around Northwest Arkansas, Sam found a small variety store in Bentonville, whose owner, Luther Harrison was willing to sell. After negotiating the deal, the family moved to Bentonville and opened a new Ben Franklin variety store, which Sam called Walton's 5&10. The date was May 9, 1950. Sam began an extensive remodeling program which was completed in March 1951. He advertised his new store as the "most up-to date modern variety store in Northwest Arkansas."
Sam and Helen Walton bought their first Ben Franklin variety store, in Newport, Arkansas, in 1945. Within five years, Sam had fulfilled his wish to make his store the top Ben Franklin franchise in the state. But when it came time to renew the lease, his landlord refused, wanting to give the store to his son. Sam and Helen were forced out and had to look for a new location.
In 1950, Sam Walton bought Harrison's variety store on the west side of Bentonville.
The first associates: (from left) Ann Womble, Ruth Keller Smith, Wanda Nichols, and Ruby Parrish, 1951.
Walton's 5&10 in the 1950s. Sam tried out a new idea in Bentonville: self-service. His store was only the third self-service variety store in the country.
Interior of Harrison's shows the typical fixtures and merchandise of a 1940s variety store.
The first ad for Walton's 5&10 in the Benton Country Democrat, July 29, 1950, promises free balloons and sales specials on glassware, clothespins, and other items.
Sam's first store, in Newport, Arkansas, which he bought in 1945, was part of the Ben Franklin variety store chain.
Telegram from Lee Jalkut, president of Ben Franklin Stores, congratulating Sam on opening a new Ben Franklin variety store in Saint Robert, Missouri.
In 1952, Sam opened a second Walton's 5&10 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Like his other stores, it was a Ben Franklin franchise.
Bud and his wife, Audie, opened this Ben Franklin store in Versailles, Missouri, in 1947.
During the 1950s, Sam and Bud began to open larger stores, which they called Walton's Family Center. Bigger stores meant more volume and more sales.
A Christmas event in the 1950s brought out this crowd to Bentonville Square. Walton's 5&10 can be seen on the left.
"Saturdays around Bentonville Square were something special. Dad always had something going on... it seemed like we had a circus or carnival going on almost every weekend"
Alice Walton
After working with Sam for one and a half years at the Newport store, Bud and Audie Walton opened their own Ben Franklin, in Versailles, Missouri, in 1947. After Sam's move to Bentonville, the Walton brothers were able to expand to other towns with other stores. Eventually, they would operate Ben Franklin stores and Walton's Family Centers in 15 locations between 1950 and 1965.
Ben Franklin franchise agreement for a store in Hickman Mills, Missouri, 1950s.
Newspaper ad for the grand opening of Bud Walton's Ben Franklin franchise in Versailles, Missouri.
Helen Robson and Sam Walton on their wedding day - Valentine's Day 1943. Sam is wearing his Army second lieutenant's dress uniform.
"I always told my mother and dad that I was going to marry someone who had that special energy and drive, that desire to be a success. I certainly found what I was looking for."
Helen Walton
Helen and Sam's wedding was reported on the front page of The Claremore Progress.
Helen Robson was born on December 3, 1919, in Claremore, Oklahoma. She attended Claremore High School, Christian College, and the University of Oklahoma School of Business.
Helen and Sam at home with their children: (from left) Jim, Alice, John, and Rob
Helen earned a letter in fencing while at Christian College for Women, Columbia, Missouri.
Helen and Sam with Rob, who was born in 1944 during Sam's last year in the Army.
After graduating from college, Sam began his career in retailing, in Des Moines, Iowa, as a management trainee with the J.C. Penney Company. Then World War II broke out. While waiting to be inducted into the Army, Sam traveled back to Oklahoma and found a job at a DuPont gunpowder plant in Pryor, near Tulsa. Bud joined him there, and they found a room in the nearby town of Claremore. As Sam later wrote, "That's where I met Helen Robson one April night in a bowling alley...I just fell right in love." Before he entered the Army, he proposed. They were married on Valentine's Day, 1943, in Claremore, her hometown.
Helen, Sam, and their children visit Helen's family, including her parents, Hazel Carr Robson (top, second from right) and Leland Stanford Robson (bottom, right).
By June 1945 when Sam was discharged from the Army, he and Helen already had their first child, Rob, who was born in 1944. Now, with the war over, they were ready to find a place to settle down, raise a family, and begin a new life. Sam knew he wanted to pursue a career in retailing. He bought his first Ben Franklin variety store in Newport, Arkansas, a town he and Helen liked at first sight. There, three more children were born: John (1946), Jim (1948), and Alice (1949).
Artist Brendan O’Connell gains international notoriety and media attention for his series of paintings depicting Walmart store interiors, and the brands that fill Walmart shelves.
Merchant Driven: Deliver a wide assortment at the lowest possible price.
Lead on Social Issues: Stand for what's right. Inclusive growth is good business.
Sense of Urgency: Have an ownership mentality. Operate with the speed needed to beat competitors.
Customer Led: The customer is the boss. Help them achieve their dreams.
High-Performance Talent: Build a diverse workforce and an inclusive environment. Listen to associates. Act on their ideas.
Innovation: Drive change. Invent new ways to serve customers and win their loyalty.
Profitable Growth: Grow the company for shareholders, and share profits with associates.
EDLP: It's Walmart's business philosophy. Sell brands for less. Don't be undersold.
EDLC: It's the enabler of EDLP. Keep prices low, control costs, and cut waste.
Global Leverage: Leverage Walmart's global size, scale, and knowledge. Use that scale to drive positive change.
In 1974, Walmart's first VP of security, Jack Shewmaker, was promoted to vice president of operations. In an effort to "level out sales curves and spread out increased efficiency," Jack officially adopted Every Day Low Prices, the pricing strategy that would carry Walmart to greater success. Initially, the strategy didn't work out. But after about six months, sales started steadily climbing. Purchases of spray paint cans, one of the test items, increased 127%.
"Every Day Low Pricing is a long-term decision. You've got to remove yourself from the addiction to short-term solutions to sales and build long-term momentum. And that is the definition of Every Day Low Price."
Jack Shewmaker
These buttons worn by Walmart associates celebrate Walmart's Every Day Low Prices strategy.
Just as Walmart has grown, expanded, and adapted throughout it's rich history, even our shopping carts have followed suit. Take a look at the various shopping cart handles from the past.
Sam Walton on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange executing the first trade in WMT, which was listed on the NYSE Big Board in 1972.
"We wanted to expand, and we realized we weren't generating enough profits both to expand and to pay off our debts...[Bud and I] agreed to seriously explore the possibilities of going public. It was a huge step for us."
Sam Walton
Certificate for 100 shares of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. stock, issued to Sam Walton.
The Waltons at the New York Stock Exchange, August 5, 1972: (from left) Rob, Nancy (Bud’s daughter), Audie, Bud, Sam, Helen, and Alice.
Original ticker tape from August 25, 1972, the day Wal-Mart stock was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
By 1970, Sam and Bud had opened 38 stores and were doing more than $44 million in sales. But to keep expanding the business, they had to borrow more money. "That practice," Sam said, "had gotten me into debt to practically every bank in Arkansas and southern Missouri."
Sam and Bud realized that only a public stock offering would let them get out of debt and continue building the company. In October 1970, Sam took Walmart public with an offer of 300,000 shares that traded over the counter. Less than two year later, that stock had quadrupled in value and begun trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
Page from a stock record book with stock certificate and stub indicating date number of shares and store.
Report on profit-sharing benefits issued to Shirley M. Pond, one of the many Wal-Mart associates to take part in the plan.
Letter: Letter from Sam Walton regarding the company's profit-sharing plan, 1970.
To call Walmart's stock performance phenomenal would be an understatement. The first offering on October 1, 1970, was $16.50 per share. Since then, Walmart stock has split two-for-one eleven times. That means a person who bought 100 shares for $1650 in 1970 would, 40 years later, have 204,800 shares, worth about $10 million. Quarterly dividends have been paid continuously since 1973.
Associate Jim Rountree's copy of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan, March 25, 1977.
Original receipt from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for Walmart's initial stock offering.
In 1971, Walmart introduced an associate profit-sharing plan. "The idea for sharing profits and benefits," Sam recalled, "had come up even before we went public, not from me, but from Helen." Like the value of the company, the value of the profit-sharing plan grew at an astounding pace. Many associate saw their portfolios turn into small fortunes as the plan fueled that exponential growth that the young company experienced.
The price of Wal-Mart stock is posted each day at the Home Office.
“Those who bought in that offering, or who owned some of those early partnerships and had them converted in that offering, made an absolute killing” Sam Walton
Walmart's fourth CEO, Mike Duke, speaks on the importance of Walmart's culture
Explore a few of the materials Walmart recycles and turns into useful items. Click each item to see what it becomes.
The Walmart Spark was created in 2007, but the inspiration for it began long ago when Sam opened the first Walmart in 1962. Each part of the Walmart Spark has a story to tell about Walmart's values and principles. This exhibit gives you a chance to discover the meaning behind the logo and then share your own spark of inspiration.
Sam speaks at another Walmart grand opening.
By the end of the 1960s, Walmart had a core management team and a dynamic plan for growth. In 1968, Sam attended an IBM computer class for executives to learn how to use this new technology in operating his business. The next year, Walmart purchased its first computer system to track sales and inventories. What's selling? What's not? What needs to be ordered, marked down, replaced? Sam also hired a full-time pilot to help scout locations for new stores and for distribution centers to keep the stores supplied. Walmart's retail operations were up and running, ready to support an expanding network of stores.
In an effort to "level out sales curves and spread out increased efficiency," Walmart officially adopted Every Day Low Prices (EDLP), a pricing strategy that would carry Walmart to greater success. Originally "Low Prices Every Day," the phrase is simply flipped to emphasize that on every day, on every product, Walmart offered low prices. Commonly referred to within the organization by its acronym, EDLP is driven by a company-wide embrace of Every Day Low Cost (EDLC), a laser-like focus on "doing more with less" and reducing operating expenses.
Walmart Discount City match box from the 1960s, with Sam’s message to customers.
An IBM data processing computer at the Bentonville Home Office, 1972.
Toy replica of a Wal-Mart tractor-trailer truck, with the company's first logo.
"We started out swimming upstream, and it's made us strong and lean and alert... We sure don't see any reason now to turn around and join the rest of the pack headed downcurrent."
Sam Walton
Walmart executive, Jack Shewmaker, advanced the strategy of Every Day Low Prices in its earliest form.
Sam always carried a small tape recorder or legal pad to keep track of ideas and inspirations that came up in his conversations with associates.
The first interoffice electronic message via teletype wireless exchange (TWX), sent from Walmart store #1 in Rogers, Arkansas, to the Home Office, in nearby Bentonville.
Sam always carried a small tape recorder or legal pad to keep track of ideas and inspirations that came up in his conversations with associates.
Weekly sales report for Walmart and Ben Franklin stores combined, December 31, 1966. Comments list the best-selling items for the week.
Sam's first plane, an Ercoupe Model 415-C. "I loved that little airplane," Sam recalled. "It would go 100 miles an hour."
When Sam pulled his keys from his pocket to start his truck, he was reminded that the first step to success is to “Go for it.”
Sam in an early Walmart "Action-Alley" where special items sold at deep discounts and promoted to break sales records.
Sam talks about his favorite VPI (Volume Producing Item), the Moon Pie, a marshmallow snack that had sold 500,000 boxes in one week.
Blueprint for Walmart Store #2 Harrison Arkansas mid 1960s. Designed by Clarence Leis one of Sam's earlier associates who created a department system for organizing merchandise.
Grand Opening of Bentonville, AR store #100 - 1974
I had no vision of the scope of what I would start. But I had confidence that as long as we did our work well, and were good to our customers, there would be no limit to us.
Sam Walton
Walmart customers could find some of the biggest bargains in Action-Alley, the wide horizontal aisle running left and right across the store, closest to the checkout counters. This is where "Volume Producing Items" (or VPIs) were stacked, sometimes floor to ceiling Walmart executives would compete to find the most profitable VPI, buying in huge amounts at rock-bottom prices, and passing on the savings to customers. Big sellers included antifreeze, toothpaste, detergent, mattress covers, Thermos bottles, and many others, including Sam's favorite, the Moon Pie.
Nancy Walton always said that her dearest wish was that her sons would stay close to each other. Sam and Bud enjoyed their relationship; they played together as children, went to the same schools until college, held similar jobs, and during World War II both served in the military. Later, Bud would work at Sam's first variety store, in Newport, Arkansas, and then become a co-founder of Walmart. It was a loving and loyal partnership that lasted all their lives.
Sam was born in the rural town of Kingfisher, in central Oklahoma, in 1918. He and his brother, James "Bud" Walton, born in 1921, grew up during the Great Depression of the 1930s. As Sam said, "this heartland area... was hard hit in that Dust Bowl era." To find work, their father, Thomas Gibson Walton, moved his family from Oklahoma into Missouri and from town to town. Sam helped his mother, Nancy, run a small milk business. He milked cows in the morning and delivered milk and newspapers after school.
"I learned from a very early age that it was important for us kids to help provide for the home, to be contributors rather than just takers."
Sam Walton
The company continued to expand its product lines by packaging its own brands and acquiring new stores, including the Mohr Value chain and the Hutcheson Shoe Company.
Sam Walton inaugurates a Walmart tradition: "the 10-foot rule."
Helen Walton talks about Sam's pick-up truck.
By the end of the 1980s, there were more than 100 Sam’s Clubs, and by 2020, there were nearly 600 clubs, many including sustainable features such as skylights, night dimming, central energy management, water-conserving fixtures, natural concrete floors and recycling.
Today, Sam’s Club has evolved to accommodate households in addition to business members, but all members can still walk into a club and expect something special.
Walmart World: An article in Walmart World defines Sam's views on satisfying customers. "There is only one boss," he used to say. "It's the customer!"
Sam urged his associate to strive for excellence, improve their performance, and meet expectations. VPI (Volume Producing Items) was one of many ways he promoted this.
Sam Walton and “Keeper of the Culture” Don Soderquist at the 1980 Shareholders Meeting.
"At Wal-Mart, one man or woman can affect the future. I worry about keeping our culture, keeping the things we believe in. Our future lies in our associates. If we can instill in them the feeling that they're out here to serve, we can keep the company right-side-up."
Sam Walton
Letters: Correspondence between Sam Walton and a customer regarding improvements in the Walmart sporting goods department.
Walmart's culture has helped make it one of the world's most admired companies. Since Sam Walton opened the first Walmart in 1962, this culture has rested on Our Beliefs: respect for the individual, service to our customers, strive for excellence, and act with integrity. Walmart associates and managers live these beliefs every day.
The 10-foot Rule is one of Walmart's secrets to customer service. During his many store visits, Sam Walton encouraged associates to take this pledge: "I solemnly promise and declare that every customer that comes within 10 feet of me, I will smile, look them in the eye, greet them, and ask if I can help them."
Sam Walton believed that effective leaders do not lead from behind their desks. "It's more important than ever that we develop leaders who are servants, who listen to their partners - their associates - in a way that creates wonderful morale to help the whole team accomplish an overall goal." Sam said.
Our best ideas usually do come from the folks in the stores.”
Sam Walton
The Open Door is a cornerstone of Walmart culture, dating back to Sam Walton listening to associates' concerns, as well as their best and brightest ideas. Walmart is committed to creating an environment of listening and open communication. The Open Door Communications Policy offers each associate an opportunity to bring suggestions, observations, or concerns to the attention of any supervisor or member of management to get help with an issue or make things better for the company.
The Walmart Cheer
In 1975, Sam Walton visited a Korean tennis ball factory where the workers began their day with a company cheer. He liked the idea so much that he couldn't wait to get back home and try it at Walmart. Today, associates around the world proudly and enthusiastically deliver the Walmart cheer in many different languages.
Grass Roots Process
"Listen to your associates," Sam Walton said. Today, Walmart's Grass Roots process lets associates voice their ideas and concerns about the company. The associate opinion survey is an important part of this process, giving Walmart valuable insights into leadership effectiveness and associate engagement.
Sam watches a group of associates proclaim, "It's my Walmart!" during the Walmart cheer at a shareholders’ meeting, 1988.
Sam leads his associates in a rousing Walmart cheer in 1987.
“There’s absolutely no limit to what plain ordinary people can accomplish, if they’re given the opportunity, encouragement, and incentive to do their best.” Sam Walton
Walmart hires and promotes associates from every walk of life, from students and seniors to the disabled and members of every race, religion, and ethnicity. What matters at Walmart is the unique spark that each associate brings to the workplace. Opportunity abounds for such a vast family of talented associates, and success is within reach of those who seek it. In the U.S., 70 percent of Walmart's store managers started as hourly associates, who sought a career path and rose through the ranks.
Walmart Family Cookbook presents favorite recipes from associates across the country.
Walmart U.S. associates from Store 690 get hands-on in the cleanup of the Doe River in Elizabethton, Tennessee.
Walmart has a long history of multiple generation of families in our company working to serve our customers. James "Red" Bland and his son Michael Bland were the first father-son team to work as drivers for the Walmart Transportation division. Red retired in 1992 after 17 years. Michael retired in 2011 with a 34 year record of accident-free driving.
A Sam’s Club Puerto Rico associate helps a member make the right choice.
In Japan, a Seiyu pharmacist assists a customer.
Walmart Aviation gives the company a competitive business advantage by flying Walmart associates around the world, quickly and safely.
Handmade handbag created by re-using blue Walmart shopping bags.
The technology team is constantly improving inventory accuracy, grocery freshness, fast store check-outs, and many other vital efficiencies that add to Walmart's success.
Cards with a variety of Walmart culture messages from China
Diversity and inclusion are enduing values embedded in Walmart culture. From the company's board of directors to its millions of associates, these values are fundamental to Walmart's way of doing business. They strengthen company morale, enhance customer service, and provide a positive work environment. But most important, they support Walmart's mission of saving people money so they can live better.
Kerry Jenks (left), former manager of Store 2088 in Batavia, New York, tours the fields of a nearby farm. Managers work hard to provide customers with local, fresh, high-quality food.
Walmart "6,000,000 Miles Award", recognizing an extraordinary record of service and safe driving.
That's how Sam Walton referred to associates working in Walmart stores and Sam's Clubs. "I get a lot of credit for a lot of things that our folks do." Sam used to say, "I wish the spotlight could be turned on them individually and collectively because they're the ones that do it for our customers. They do it every day." Today, there are more than two million associates worldwide. They are all needed, to keep Walmart's thousands of retail outlets humming.
Sam was famous for wearing a variety of baseball caps with Walmart mottos. Of them all, this message was his favorite.
Diversity Journal honored Walmart for its leadership and for sharing its diversity best practices and success stories with the magazine's readers.
Taking care of customers at Pali, Costa Rica.
In 2010, Valeda Snyder from Store 14 in Lebanon, Missouri, was recognized for being the first Walmart associate to serve our customer continuously for 50 year. Valeda had worked for Sam Walton's Ben Franklin stores for two years before the opening of the first Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962.
Numerous awards have recognized Walmart's dedication to advancing diversity and inclusion at every level of the company.
Associates in Yankton, South Dakota, won a Helen P. Walton Excellence in Community Leadership Award for logging more than 1,500 volunteer hours, matched in donations by Walmart.
A new form of currency?
Maybe not, but that’s how it can seems when pin collectors meet up and the swap is on. Whether a button or pin, either form of expression has always been and will likely always be a big part of the Walmart culture.
Worn on badge holders, pinned to lanyards or just stuck into a cubicle wall or sun visor on an associate’s car, the pin-backed accessory is as much a form of personal expression as it is a show of support, community, and camaraderie.
"Bud" Walton, Sam Walton's younger brother, was one of a kind. As co-founder of Walmart, "Mr. Bud" was his brother's closest confidant. Together they navigated the uncharted future of discount retailing. As a senior vice president, Bud focused on real estate and expanding the number of stores, which at the time of his death (March 21, 1995) numbered more than 2,600. Bud had a gift for making people feel special. He could magically be a boss, leader, and a good friend, all at the same time. He was an unassuming man whose generosity touched thousands of lives. The Bud Walton Arena, at the University of Arkansas, is named in his honor.
Helen Walton spent her life sharing her time and resources with others. "Being married to a man with initiative means you're going to be making new trails," she once said. From the early days, she was involved in helping Sam build his retail business. He considered her one of his best advisers. As a young mother, she cared for their children and volunteered for the PTA, Girl Scouts, and community groups. Later, she organized and funded programs for preschool education and childcare, established scholarships, and contributed to higher education and the arts. A generous and dedicated philanthropist, she described her work as a "volunteer to community, state and nation." Helen Walton passed away on April 19, 2007.
Sam and Helen enjoying the outdoors.
Sam and Bud on a hunting trip.
Sam Walton's vision continues to spread. By offering quality goods and services at every day low prices, Walmart has improved the standard of living for people around the world. Walmart's core values, or basic beliefs - Service, Respect, Excellence, and Integrity - fuel the company's growth and serve our customers, associates, and suppliers on a global scale.
In 1991, Walmart opened its first store outside the United States - a Sam's Club near Mexico City. Since that first store opened, Walmart's worldwide presence and ability to serve many countries and cultures has grown exponentially. With every store it opens, every market it enters, and every customer it serves, Walmart strives to advances Sam Walton's mission: to save people money so they can live better.
Walmart is committed to improving the customer experience. This article from ASDA Life, the magazine for the company’s stores in the United Kingdom highlights innovations that customers experience as part of that commitment.
A "to do" list, dated July 7, 1990, sets out a vision for the future, including international expansion into Mexico.
"I would like to be remembered as a good friend...
That's important. I have such a strong feeling for the folks in our company. They have meant so much to me."
Sam Walton
Sam Walton's last messages. In one, he thanks his associates for their "love and friendship." The other celebrates a future prototype Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas.
Samuel Moore Walton died on April 5, 1992, just weeks after he had received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His life, as the citation said, "epitomized the American dream." From his youth in the rural Midwest to his founding of one of the most successful companies in the world, Sam Walton remained true to his roots. For Walmart associates especially, "Mr. Sam" was indeed a good friend, who believed that ordinary people, working together, could do extraordinary things. He never lost his enthusiasm for doing what he enjoyed most: visiting with his beloved associates at Walmart stores all over the country.
Every year on February 14th, the museum removes the white silk flowers on Helen's dress exhibit and replaces them with fresh cut flowers to honor Sam and Helen's wedding anniversary.
Save money. Live better. These are the words that define Walmart. The "Every Day Low Cost" strategy helps people save money, stretch their paychecks, and provide a better life for their families. But the work the company does to help people live better goes far beyond the store walls. It extends into local communities and around the world.
Walmart has an opportunity and a responsibility to make a difference on the big issues that matter to us all. Issues like preserving the environment, fighting hunger, empowering women, and providing access to healthy, affordable food. Walmart is driving meaningful change in a way that no other company can. And the company is committed to using size and scale to help the world live better.
“This is Walmart’s time to look to the future and seize the opportunity to truly lead around the world.”
Mike Duke
In this 1996 letter to Walmart associates, Bobby Martin, the first CEO of Walmart International, says that the Walmart brand is known internationally for the “low cost, best value, greatest satisfaction and highest standard of service.”
October 8, 1946 - June 27, 2005
John Walton enrolled at Wooster College before leaving to enlist in the Army. A Green Beret medic who served in Vietnam, John was awarded the Silver Star for saving the lives of several members of his unit while under intense enemy fire. After the Army, he pursued a variety of business interests, including work as a crop duster in the 1970s and as a boat builder in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1992, John joined the Walmart Board of Directors and served as an engaged member as part of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee.
Helen and Sam Walton's second child, John was a guiding figure in the family's charitable initiatives, especially in the campaign to bring high-quality education to every American child. John died on June 27, 2005, when his experimental plane went down near Jackson, Wyoming. He was 58. He'll always be fondly remembered for his leadership, his tireless energy, and his passion to make a real difference in children's lives.
Chairman, Arvest Bank Group, Inc.
Jim Walton joined Walmart as a real estate manager in 1971 after earning a marketing degree from the University of Arkansas. In 1975, Jim left Walmart to become President of Walton Enterprises, a diversified family business with interests in retailing, agriculture, and charitable programs, particularly in the area of education. Today, Jim is the Chairman of Bentonville, Arkansas-based Arvest Bank Group, a group of community-focused banks serving customers in four states that has been recognized nationally for its industry-leading customer service. Highly engaged with the Northwest Arkansas community, Jim is active with the Northwest Arkansas Council. He is a member of the Walton Family Foundation Board of Directors, and he has served on the Arkansas Scenic Rivers Commission and the Arkansas Council on Economic Education. Jim is a retired member of the Board of Directors of Walmart Inc. and was succeeded by his son Steuart on the Board in 2016.
Did you know? Jim began his career carting boxes for Walton's 5&10. He enjoys canoeing, camping, and other outdoor activities and was an avid student of Dr. Neil Compton, the man widely credited with saving the Buffalo River.
Rob Walton attended Wooster College and earned a degree in accounting from the University of Arkansas and a law degree from the Columbia University School of Law. He joined Walmart in 1969 as an outside lawyer and General Counsel, moved to Bentonville in 1978 to work full time for the company, and became Chairman of the Board following Sam's passing in 1992. Prior to becoming chairman, he held a variety of positions with Walmart, including Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary, General Counsel, and Vice Chairman. He is currently involved with a number of non-profit and education organizations, including Conservation International, where he serves as chairman of the executive committee, and the College of Wooster, where is he is an Emeritus Life Trustee. In 2014, Rob Walton retired as Chairman of the Board for Walmart Inc; Greg Penner was chosen as his successor.
Did you know? Rob started out mopping floors and carrying freight up the back stairs in Walton's 5&10. He is actively engaged in competitive cycling, and is an advocate of increasing cycling opportunities in communities nationwide.
“I’ve been blessed with a wife and family who’ve stuck together and loved each other and indulged in my lifelong obsession with minding the store.”
Sam Walton
Sam and Helen Walton's children carved their own paths in life, but they followed in their parents' footsteps when it comes to hard work, community involvement, and giving back. This is evident in the impact they've made in communities across the country through their dedication to the arts, educational opportunity, and conservation.
Founder, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Alice Walton graduated from Trinity University, in San Antonio, Texas, with a B.A. in Economics and Finance. She began her career in finance as an equity analyst and money manager for First Commerce Corporation and later served as Vice Chairman and head of all investment-related activities at the Arvest Bank Group. As the first chairperson and driving force behind the Northwest Arkansas Council, she helped guide the community development organization in the creation of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. In 2001, she was inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame.
Did you know? Alice was well known for selling candy and popcorn at Walton's 5&10 in the 1950s and inherited a life-long love for art and painting from her mother Helen, the "first lady of Walmart." This led to Alice's founding of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, a world-renowned and innovative museum.
Originally stated as "Low Prices Every Day," the term is simply flipped to show that on every day, on every product, Walmart offers low prices. Why not Everyday Low Prices? "Everyday" implies ordinary, common, "Every Day" reinforces the consistency of the pricing strategy.
It's a strategy that isn't focused on short-term success, but long-term benefit to the customer. It's about momentum. That's what motivated Shewmaker's decision to implement the strategy.
“EDLP builds customer trust, both in stores and online.”
Doug McMillon
Proofs for an advertisement focusing on how Walmart and its people save people money and serve communities through every day low prices.
WW2 Memorial: Together Walmart, its associates, and customers contributed $14.5 million to construction of the National World War II Memorial in Washington DC.
The Foundation has given $20 million since 2010 - and has just announced another $20 million commitment through 2019 - to help veterans and military families to reintegrate into civilian life through job training and other support programs. And to date, through the Women's Economic Empowerment initiative, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have provided funding to programs that are training nearly 750,000 women around the world on farms, in factories, and in the retail sector.
Sam’s Club associates in Puerto Rico with items collected for earthquake victims in Haiti, 2000. Walmart with its associates and customers donated millions of dollars to relief efforts.
Associate volunteers help unload and distribute supplies to people affected by Hurricane Katrina, 2005.
Through Volunteerism Always Pays, Walmart makes financial contributions to eligible organization that associates choose to support. In 2013, associates volunteered nearly 2 million hours in towns across the U.S. Additionally, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation give nearly $90 million on average each year to local organizations through the State Giving and Facility Giving programs.
A Walmart Foundation grant to the Red Cross helped find disaster readiness projects in Louisiana’s St. Bernard Parish after Hurricane Katrina, 2009.
Whether the disaster is a fire, a flood, or a hurricane, Walmart is there to lend its logistics network and expertise to distributing aid quickly. Working primarily with the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army, Walmart and its Foundation provide life-sustaining supplies and much-needed peace of mind to those in need of assistance.
A checkout station at a Maxxi Atacado in Brazil. Walmart acquired these supermarkets in 2005.
A convoy of Walmart trucks loaded with relief supplies prepares to enter New Orleans immediately following Hurricane Katrina, 2005.
A "Share Our Strength, No Kid Hungry" memorial dinner plate acknowledging the contributions of Margaret McKenna, Walmart Foundation president from 2007 to 2011.
Feeding America, the nation’s leading hunger-relief charity, supplies food to more than 37 million Americans each year. Walmart is one of its top corporate donors.
Walmart and its associates participates in many charitable programs, fundraising efforts for children's hospitals, career mentoring programs, and donations through payroll deduction.
At a Fighting Hunger Together event in 2013 at the Bud Walton arena, a glow stick was taped to the bottom of every sixth seat. During the presentation, people were asked to light and hold up the glow sticks to symbolize one in six Americans at risk of going hungry at the time.
Through promotions and events, the Foundation encourages associates and customers to fight hunger in their own communities.
Sam Walton's philosophy of philanthropy was "operate globally, give back locally." Since 1979, the Walmart Foundation has enacted this philosophy by supporting causes that are important to Walmart customers and associates. The Foundation accomplishes this by igniting the passion of Walmart associates and customers, leveraging Walmart donations of cash, products, services, and expertise. By focusing on environmental sustainability; fighting hunger and improving nutrition; creating economic opportunity for women, veterans and others, and strengthening communities through disaster relief and support of local causes, the Foundation ensures Sam Walton's philosophy endures.
Fighting Hunger Together
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation believe that every family should have access to affordable, healthy food. In 2014, we delivered on our 2010 commitment to invest $2 billion in cash and in kind to alleviate hunger in the U.S. - a year ahead of schedule. We continue to award grants to nonprofits such as Feeding America and draw on Walmart's logistics and food business expertise to strengthen charitable meal systems in local communities. We also participate in programs such as Breakfast in the Classroom in order to help get meals to children where they study and play.
Through the Volunteerism Always Pays (VAP) program, the Foundation encourages associate volunteerism by making charitable contributions to qualifying organizations where they’ve volunteered.
Another Sam’s Club opens, 1986. The company opened 123 Sam’s Clubs in the 1980s.
In the early 1980's, a new competitor appeared - sub-discount wholesalers with low overhead that could undersell regular discounters. Because of Walmart's commitment to "Every Day Low Price," it had to meet this challenge. In 1983, the company opened the first Sam's Club, aimed at small-business owners and other customers who buy merchandise in bulk. It was an instant success. Since then, hundreds of Sam's Clubs have opened across the country, earning billions of dollars in sales. Sam wrote that creating this new line of stores was like a second childhood for him, "a chance to build a company all over again."
Generating high profits can be risky, as Sam Walton found out in 1984. He told company associates he would "do a hula on Wall Street" if Walmart achieved a record 8-percent pre-tax profit that year. The industry average was 3 percent. Walmart did it, and Sam had to live up to his pledge. David Glass assured that it would be a high-profile event by hiring a troupe of hula dancers and ukulele players and alerting the media. The video clip here shows a somewhat reluctant chairman of the board keeping his promise.
In 1984, Sam promised to “do a Hula on Wall Street” if Walmart achieved an 8 percent pretax profit. Though somewhat reluctant, he kept that promise. Sam’s famous hula dance on Wall Street in 1984 proved his own rule “Don’t take yourself so seriously. Loosen up, and everybody around you will loosen up.”
"In 1979... we hit a billion dollars in sales... I was amazed that Wal-Mart had turned into a billion-dollar company. But I couldn't see any logic to stopping there."
Sam Walton
The second Sam’s Club opens in Dallas, Texas, 1983.
Ol’ Roy was known to lie down when he should have stood on point, but Sam Walton still appreciated his skill as a hunting partner.
Ol’ Roy first became known and loved by Walmart associates and customers as Sam Walton‘s companion while he was visiting stores. Ol‘ Roy’s adventures were well-known. He got in a fight with a skunk, was caught by one of Sam’s grandchildren while fishing, and found a covey of quail on the tarmac of the Poteau, Okla., airport.
Did you know?
Ol’ Roy had a brother. Ol’ Ben was adopted by Walmart executive Ferold Arend.
A Close Call
In 1979, the English Setter went missing aer a very successful bird hunt in South Texas. Sam and his hunting companions looked all over for Roy, but eventually le, assuming the dog was dead. A heartbroken Sam told the story in a letter to associates; “I suppose it was Ol’ Roy’s time and the only consolation I have is that for an old hunting dog, the best place in the world to expire would be in the field.” But Ol’ Roy wasn’t dead, just hurt. Another hunter found him a couple days later, treated his wounds, and returned him home.
Gone, But Not Forgotten
In 1980, Walmart re-named its private label dog food in honor of Ol’ Roy, and his likeness was added to the packaging. Over the next few decades, Ol’ Roy became a bestseller, and other varieties and products were added to the Ol’ Roy line. Ol’ Roy died in 1981, but as the namesake of the highest-selling dog food in the United States, he leaves a legacy as one of the greatest—or most overrated—bird dogs in history.
The company continued to expand its product lines by packaging its own brands and acquiring new stores, including the Mohr Value chain and the Hutcheson Shoe Company.
“At Sam’s Club, we work hard every day to make sure both our members and our associates can expect something special from us. Our members can expect great items at fabulous prices, and our associates can expect a place where they belong and can grow their careers.”
Kathryn McLay, CEO of Sam’s Club
In April 1983, in a rundown building in Midwest City, Oklahoma, Sam Walton opened the first Sam’s Club. Building on a concept pioneered by Sol Price’s Price Clubs in California, Sam’s Club originally provided its members with a limited selection of merchandise intended for re-sale by small business owners. By keeping costs low, Sam’s Club was able to sell at prices competitive to wholesalers. With special items available at low prices for a limited time, shopping for at Sam’s Club was like a treasure hunt.
1940s
Fuzzy Comfy Slippers
$1.98
Price today?
$8.99
Ol' Roy Dog Food
Ol' Roy was Mr. Sam's favorite hunting dog. When the English Setter died, in 1981, Sam honored his old friend by placing his name and likeness on Walmart's dog-food brand. Today, Ol' Roy is the world's leading pet food.
Walmart's 25th Anniversary
To commemorate this important milestone, in 1987, Coca-Cola issued a special celebratory label, and Mattel made a limited edition of a "Pink Jubilee Barbie" doll.
Ron Loveless, Sam's Club's first general manager, explains why the new store was so special to Sam.
Louise Thaden: Aviator. Pioneer. Bentonville Native.
In 1929, Bentonville native Louise Thaden became the first pilot to simultaneously hold records in women's altitude, endurance, and speed in a light plane. A friend and colleague of Amelia Earhart, Thaden, along with Earhart, was known for "breaking the glass ceiling" of a field long kept exclusive to men.
Then in 1936, Thaden was awarded the Bendix Trophy, the first year women were allowed to compete against men in this prestigious race. She set a new world record of 14 hours, 55 minutes from New York City to Los Angeles.
Thaden School is Born
Thaden was an innovator, a risk taker, and a woman who showed the world that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. She is the namesake for the Thaden School, a new Independent school in Northwest Arkansas that “gives students roots and wings, enabling them to build strong foundations and reach new heights as they pursue their dreams and make their own history.”
Sam Walton saw early on that innovation was going to be key to Walmart's success. And so he purchased his first plane in 1954 - an Ercoupe 415-C - and took to the skies. The 415-C, with its washing machine engine, was used to scout locations for new stores and to keep an eye on his competitors' traffic.
Following the Ercoupe was a succession of planes which Sam would use to visit Walmart stores, often bring along his trusted hunting dog and best friend, Ol'Roy.
Today, Walmart's private fleet is used to quickly and efficiently shuttle company leaders around the world. Personal visits were a touch that Sam knew would make a difference - and still do.
An Airport of Their Own
Long before Sam Walton began flying, Bentonville was abuzz with aviation. The tiny local airfield played host to visitors from far and wide, welcoming them to the Ozarks.
Bentonville Municipal Airport is a city-owned, public-use facility located just two miles from the Walmart Museum and occupies an area of 130 acres. It’s categorized by the FAA as a “general aviation facility” and serves a wide variety of private aircraft.
Aviation in Bentonville’s Past – and Future
The City of Bentonville envisions the airport’s further development as an engaging, interactive space for residents and visitors alike to learn about the area’s heritage of aviation.
In 1951, the airport was named Louise Thaden Field in honor of Bentonville native Louise McPhetridge Thaden (1905-1979), an aviation pioneer.
“There’s no question whatsoever that we could not have done what we did back then if I hadn’t had my airplanes.”
Sam Walton
Model of Sam Walton's First Airplane
Sam Walton's first plane was an Ercoupe 415-C, a model of which is hanging above. Mr. Sam's original Ercoupe 415-C is at the Arkansas Air & Military Museum in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Instrument Flight Rules Training Visor
In low visibility situations such as thunderstorms, a pilot must rely on the instruments to fly. To practice for such an event, Sam Walton used this instrument flight rules training visor, which mimicked storm situations and restricted him to using just his instruments to fly.
Sam Walton's Flight Log
After decades of time in the air, Sam's flight log included a wide variety of entries. Among the last trips were to Houston to receive cancer treatments.
1940s
Sweet Orr Corduroy Pants
$3.79
Price today?
$21
1940s
Sweater
$1.29
Price today?
$23
1940s
26 piece serving set of Silverware
$26
54 piece serving set of silverware
$49
Price today?
26 piece set for $49 and 54 piece set for $59
1940s
Stewart-Warner Refridgerator
$139.95
Price today?
$649
1940s
Northern Bathroom Tissue
20 rolls for $1
Price today?
20 rolls for $26
Ol' Roy Dog Food
Ol' Roy was Mr. Sam's favorite hunting dog. When the English Setter died, in 1981, Sam honored his old friend by placing his name and likeness on Walmart's dog-food brand. Today, Ol' Roy is the world's leading pet food.
Walmart's 25th Anniversary
To commemorate this important milestone, in 1987, Coca-Cola issued a special celebratory label, and Mattel made a limited edition of a "Pink Jubilee Barbie" doll.
1940s
Men's Socks
2 for $0.29
Price today?
2 for $9
The customer who returned this hand mixer believed it was "possessed."
"Fishing rod torn—will not catch," complained the customer who brought it back. Walmart accepted the return.
According to the defective-merchandise slip, this pencil sharpener was returned because it "doesn't sharpen any ink pens."
This Wilson tennis racket, obviously crushed by a heavy weight, came back with this explanation: "Customer could not serve well with it."
Defective-merchandise slip for this toy set cites the reason for its return as "fishing pole didn't work—no fish."
"When customers thought of Walmart, they should think of low prices and satisfaction guaranteed... they wouldn't find it cheaper anywhere else, and if they didn't like it, they could bring it back."
Sam Walton
Sam Walton believed that there is only one boss - the customer. "One of our objectives should be to have zero complaints in our stores," he said. Here are a few examples of returns that were accepted for exchange or reimbursement.
Letters between Sam and Rosemary Hager, a customer, regarding a discrepancy in price she found at two Walmart locations.
This Stanley® vacuum bottle was made in 1954, eight years before the first Walmart opened. The customer returned it in 1983, claiming, "It leaks." The customer is always right: it did leak!
This outdoor thermometer was returned to a Walmart store when the customer complained, "It never had the correct time."
Walmart's second CEO, David Glass, speaks about Walmart's decision to go international in the 1990s.
The 1980 annual report celebrates Walmart’s “billion dollar year.”
By the late 1970's, Sam had recruited an executive management team - "as much talent under one roof as any one retailer could ever hope to have," he said. Sales were skyrocketing and the company was growing. Walmart acquired Mohr Value discount stores in Illinois, and in 1987, 92 Kuhn's Big K stores in Tennessee and other southern states. "We exploded from that point on," wrote Sam. The press took notice. Fortune and Life and other journals frequently ran stories on the Walmart phenomenon and it's founder.
Sam not only found Walmart, he also shopped there. From quick bites while on the road to hunting and fishing equipment, Sam was as fond of saving money himself as he was of helping others save money. So when it was time to get the oil changed in his pickup truck, he didn’t head to the dealership, he headed for Walmart.
1940s
Jubilee Repeat Sale! $2.98 Values!
Rest Master CHAIRS
2 for $5
Price today?
2 for $199.98
Meet Maverick, Walmart's safety dog. A favorite at the Home Office, this handsome and sociable "Associate" provided loyal service until his retirement in 2010.
Welcome to Sam's office.
There are a number of things to explore.
Objects that light up yellow when hovering over them offer more information and interactive content when clicked.
When you are finished exploring, click the "move to next display button" or the blue exit door icon.
Sam used to say, "Mark it up 30 percent and that's it. No matter what you pay for it, if we get a deal, pass it on to the customers." At the time, most other variety stores marked up by 50 percent. Close this window and click on the boxes to see how much money people could save at Sam's stores.
Click on each item to discover the cost in the 1940s, and approximately how much you would pay today.
In 1979, Sam purchased a Ford F-150 Custom Model with a four-speed manual transmission and four-wheel drive. After more than a few aftermarket dents and scrapes, it came to symbolize Sam’s own humble nature and the humility he expected from his executives and associates.
At Walmart, business moves fast. To help it move even faster, Walmart associates use lots of ways to shorten what they want to say. Close this window and discover some of the ways they save time - and words.
Recycled cardboard is used to make pizza boxes.
Recycled rubber creates a colorful jogging track
Recycled styrofoam is used to make picture frames.
Recycled plastic bottles are used to make pet beds.
To the average human, this looks like a steering wheel. To Sam’s dogs, it looked like a tasty chew toy.