A Bryson in China: To Visit Wal-Mart in China

Monday, August 20, 2007

To Visit Wal-Mart in China

Coming to visit Dongguan? I enjoy having visitors here. But my co-workers just can’t seem to understand why I take foreigners to Wal-Mart. The locals enjoy the place, but don’t see why I would ever want to take an American or Frenchman to a big shopping store. But to any visitor that has made the trip with me will tell you, it is a worthwhile destination!

Where else can you really see how China is progressing? Where else can you see thousands of shoppers at one time? Where else can you find almost anything of interest to a Chinese consumer? Where else can you not only buy cheap goods, but taste tea, get a shampoo and haircut, or try unique foods of the region?

Wal-Mart went through a big learning curve to understand the local consumer. They tried frozen foods, packaged foods, and big home items. They learned they had to go with fresh meats and fishes. Now you can scoop your fish right out of the massive tanks. Live crabs are available. In five minutes I can whisk someone through the meat and produce area and give them a real flavor of the local foods.

MSNBC has studied Wal-Mart in China closely, and provides a great insight into the phenomenon in a recent new article. (Click here for What's on the Shelves in China's Wal-Marts.) Be sure to also check the slide shows and videos associated with the posting.

Labels: Life in China, Wal-Mart