Carol Spieckerman

Sam's Club Helps Small Guys Get Loans

July 7, 2010

FROM RETAILWIRE:
Getting credit is not always easy for new business owners, but now one very large business, Wal-Mart's Sam's Club division, is working to help members get loans of up to $25,000 through the Small Business Administration. What do you see as the pros and cons of Sam's involvement in helping club members apply and get SBA loans?      [more...]

Whether it's Walmart reaching out to the unbanked and facilitating pay-as-you-go access to any number of services or Sam's offering business loans, Walmart continues to see opportunities and break down barriers where others put up velvet ropes. As Walmart gets more aggressive in urban markets and plows ahead in emerging markets, these moves build a foundation for future loyalty, and in some cases, dependency. Great strategy.