Walmart Just Goes On and On

Walmart's growth over time.

There are a lot of different types of animation. This animation of the growth of Walmart from its initial founding in 1962 by Sam Walmart in Bentonville, Arkansas to the year 2006. It shows how Walmart has spread across the lower 48 states at an incredible rate, though in a quite incremental and strategic fashion.

Every dot represents a store opening. There are thousands of Walmart stores, and they also have far-flung foreign operations in China, Europe, Africa and elsewhere. Walmart has over 11,000 stores in 27 countries, under 55 names. It is the largest private employer, with over 2 million workers globally. It's the largest retailer in the world.

Notice how one dot is soon accompanied by other dots, which then spread out, and that when one dot appears off on its own, soon there are others nearby.

I have no opinion to express here on whether this is good or bad, I am simply presenting it as an example of how even very simple animation can be interesting and convey information of real value. I grew up in suburban New York, and I will confess that I never saw or set foot in a Walmart until about a dozen years ago.

2020