I’m going to break from my typical posting regimen today to share some news with you — and to get your feedback about it. I was recently approached by the folks at Wal-Mart to participate in their ElevenMoms initiative. ElevenMoms is a group of mom bloggers who are dedicated to helping folks save money and make their dollars go as far as possible. They post videos on Wal-Mart’s YouTube channel with money-saving tips and guest blog on Wal-Mart’s site.
So why did Wal-Mart approach me? I’m not really a typical mom blogger, and though going green will help you live more simply and frugally, technically my site isn’t about saving money. Still, thanks to the recommendations of several of the moms on the panel, I have been asked to join. (Thanks ladies!)
My first concern, of course, was Wal-Mart’s less than stellar record on the environment and social responsibility. The company isn’t exactly known as a pillar of sustainability, and has even been ranked as the #2 worst company in the world. So why would I, an advocate of green everything, want to associate my name with Wal-Mart? Trust me…I thought of all this.
Here’s what I think: In conversations about ElevenMOms (which is technically more than 11 women), I learned that this group of ladies will have access to some of Wal-Mart’s decision makers. They’ll have the opportunity to voice their concerns from a consumer’s perspective and tell them what works, what doesn’t and what needs to be done. From where I’m sitting, that sounds like a great opportunity to give them an earful about sustainability, and why eco-conscious shoppers try to avoid them like the plague when they can.
Honestly, when my family is on a tight budget, we still shop at Wal-Mart, because frankly, our dollars go further there than at any other grocery stores near our home. And the nearest Farmer’s Market is nearly an hour away. While at Wal-Mart, we try to find the greenest products possible — but the pickings are slim. I’m hopeful that if I join this panel of moms, I’ll be able help change that.
There is no payment or financial incentive for joining the panel. I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t welcome additional exposure for Green Your Decor, but there is no direct payment. I want this to be as transparent as possible. I have no intention of becoming an advocate for Wal-Mart. Rather, I want to be an advocate for all the green shoppers out there who want to see them do better.
So, dear readers, I wanted to hear from you. What do you think of this opportunity? Do you think it is a good fit for Green Your Decor? Please leave comments and let me know!
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I’m Jennae Petersen, and I’m a lot of things. A mother, a graphic artist, a connosieur of beautiful interiors and a purveyor of all things design. Green Your Decor was borne of frustration in my attempts to find eco-friendly housewares that were also beautiful, and inspiration to do something to reduce my own carbon footprint and help others do the same in a beautiful way.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
You should join them, walmart is making steps to become green. If you will have their ear, you would be able to get a lot of great points and products to them.
I love your optimism, but have a hard time believing the people associated with that company are smart enough to guide their leaders in a green direction. And I disagree with your comment about their prices. You can shop at Costco, get just as great of prices, higher quality and support a much better company. I appreciate that you are putting thought into this!
You should join! Not only will it give you an opportunity to address environmental concerns you may be able to actually help them change!
I would go for it! It is a one time offer, you need to jump on it!
Tara @ Go Green Streets last blog post..Eco friendly flooring options
I agree with Beth- although I understand being on a tight budget (student loans and all) I avoid Wal-Mart like the plague. These big box stores are actually making it difficult to monitor organic claims and produce being sold. Not to mention human rights concerns in the US and Canada as well as overseas. Instead of supporting local farmers and sustainable practice stores like Walmart go for most product for lowest prices, treating female employees unfairly, having sweat shops and child labour in developing countries and clear cutting precious land for their huge parking lots and stores. Not something i’d want to be associated with.
@Beth Thanks for your input.
@Natalie I can definitely understand why you would say that, which is why this is a big decision for me. As far as Costco, the closest one is again nearly an hour away from me, and the only alternative is Sam’s Club, owned by guess who
I try to support local grocery stores and smaller chains (like Kroger, Ingles & Publix) whenever I can, but their prices are higher. So sometimes my budget dictates where I shop. Thanks for giving me something else to think about.
Walmart are trying really hard to get greener, both in the US and in Canada (where they’ve appointed the former UK guy to green the operations, with great fanfare). I love Grist’s joke about the cognitive dissonance of that… but at the same time, if Walmart could green their supply chain the way that, say, Ikea have, they could make a huge difference in the world. And rant as we hippies may, people aren’t going to stop shopping at places like Walmart. Helping them to broaden the number of green products they carry, and go deeper green than recycled paper towels, could potentially have a bigger real-world environmental impact than almost any other individual action.
My gut says go for it. If you feel that your input doesn’t actually generate some action from Walmart, you could always quit and create a big stink.
How interesting, that Costco is seen as greener than Walmart. I can only find references to relative pay and health benefits for workers when I google this. From my Canadian perspective, I always thought of them as being equally atrocious US-owned big-box sellers of products made for pennies in the third world…
I appreciate your asking. Wal-Mart has a bad record for the way they treat their workers. Read ‘Nickle and Dimed in the USA” But, Wal-Mart is such a huge company that even one small change can make a big difference in the environment. I say do it. One person can make a change and 11 Moms can change the world!
I think it is a great idea, they don’t have the best track record in anything (besides making money) if you have access to the decision makers you have a voice, and they will see all the people who agree with you by how many people read this blog.
Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead
Rebecca Cs last blog post..Penny Pinching Diva’s Favorite Things
I would see it as an opportunity, like you said, to give feedback. Go for it! Not many of us get a chance to give such direct feedback to a corporation.
The WalMart in our town has been steadily increasing their lines of ‘green’ products, notably in the organic foods and cleaning aisles. The best way to voice our opinions as consumers is with our spending – if we must shop at WalMart (not judging, I do it too for the same reasons as the above commenters – price & location), we can at least indicate our preferences for sustainable products with our wallets.
Jenae I can’t even believe that you are asking this question. Although we all may have some problems with WalMart this is an excellent opportunity for you to influence the decision makers, raise awareness and represent a demographic that is missing in the current 11 (12). Go for it and don’t look back!
Renée aka Mekhismoms last blog post..Heavy Weight
I think it’s a great opportunity and you should DEFINITELY take it…don’t even think twice about it!
Although they are not paying you, according to what another one of the 11+ has on their website “Wal-Mart has made it clear that “possibly” other revenue earning opportunities MAY exist for us in the future and that they would try to present opportunities to us if and when possible.” I agree that this is a great opportunity, I would continue to be VERY transparent about the relationship and what you want to be associated with/stand for.
I have a few questions/concerns. This “dedicated to helping folks save money and make their dollars go as far as possible” mission statement does not seem in alignment with Green Your Decor. Will you have to change what you do/focus on?
I believe in stretching your $$ and making it go further, however, at what expense? Too often companies (large and small) have passed on their external costs to the world, leaving their messes (co2, toxic waste sites, exploited workers, arid land, etc) for the rest of us to live with or clean up. Many “green” companies are going to be more expensive than Walmart because they are addressing these external costs directly and taking responsibility for them. Will you still be able to support/promote companies that aren’t in line with “make dollars go as far as possible”? To me this directive misses the bigger point.
Until Walmart addresses the “better living through more things” paradigm that they have so eloquently been promoting to the detriment of people and planet, I think they will not be able to make the transition from evil-empire to eco-empire.
That said, I do think they hold tremendous power for change and I do think that they are making better decisions and moving in the right direction. True confessions: in my past life, I designed for Walmart… I actually am responsible for some of their best selling items, but one day it hit me… my job was making pretty landfill! Cheap often means disposable and although that is great for Wamart’s bottom line it is not great for the planet. I personally believe the new paradigm is going to be “better living through thoughtful things” and those things will not always be cheap. In many ways cheap can be the enemy to sustainability since it reinforces a disposable rather than a quality product.
I appreciate that you are giving this thoughtful consideration. I wish you the best, no matter what you decide. Hey, and if Walmart is ever looking for someone who knows them from both the inside and outside, have them give me a call.
I wouldn’t want to blog for them but I sure would love a few minutes with Lee Scott.
Thanks everyone for your thoughtful comments and for sharing your opinions with me. I am getting ready to write a post about my decision, and I will link to it from here once I do. You have no idea how much I appreciate your insight! You guys rock!