Wal-Mart Goes Outside-In

Wal-Mart has created a team to listen and act specifically at a local level, reports Business Week.  Intriguingly, the 'Action Alley' plan has been come about because of multiple micro issues building up and gnawing away at the share value.

"For several years, Scott (Wal-Mart's CEO) shrugged off relentless criticism, but he now admits the broadsides on everything from labor practices to suburban sprawl were starting to inflict real damage."

Listening at a grassroots level...

...is something that most biggest brands would like to do but have struggled with.  The blogopshere has made it possible and Wal-Mart shows that, with the right resourcing, an Outside-In approach can work.  (Via SPR)