Walmart History: Walmart’s company story

Walmart, Inc., formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., American operator of discount stores that was one of the world’s biggest retailers and among the world’s largest corporations. Company headquarters are in Bentonville, Arkansas. Wal-Mart was founded by Sam Walton in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962, and focused its early growth in rural areas, thereby avoiding direct competition with retailing giants such as Sears and Kmart.
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Sam Walton was born in 1918 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. In 1942, at the age of 24, he joined the military. He married Helen Robson in 1943. When his military service ended in 1945, Sam and Helen moved to Iowa and then to Newport, Arkansas. During this time, Sam gained early retail experience, eventually operating his variety store.
Responsible for the purchase and maintenance of signage, Walton's assistant, Bob Bogle, came up with the name "Wal-Mart" for the new chain.
In 1950, the Waltons left Newport for Bentonville, where Sam opened Walton’s 5&10 on the downtown square. They chose Bentonville because Helen wanted small-town living, and Sam could take advantage of the different hunting seasons that living at the corner of four states had to offer.
Inspired by the early success of his dime store, and driven to bring even greater opportunity and value to his customers, Sam opened the first Walmart in 1962 at the age of 44 in Rogers, Arkansas.
Walmart's history is more than just the stores built, the partnerships made, and the customers served.
Sam Walton's strategy is built on an unshakeable foundation: the lowest prices anytime, anywhere.
By 1967, the Walton family grew to 24 stores across the state of Arkansas, and had reached $12.6 million in sales. In 1969, the company officially incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
In the 1970s, after a decade of incredible growth, "Mr. Sam" begins to take Walmart national, providing his vision's widespread appeal. Walmart became a publicly-traded company in 1970, with the first stock sold at $16.50 per share.
1971 saw the first distribution center and Home Office open in Bentonville, Arkansas. By 1972, Walmart was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (WMT). With 51 stores, Walmart recorded sales of $78 million.

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