Walmart, founded by Sam Walton in 1962, began as a single discount store in Rogers, Arkansas. Inspired by the success of his Ben Franklin variety store, Walton aimed to offer customers lower prices and better service. By 1970, Walmart had expanded to 38 stores and reached $44.2 million in sales. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Walmart continued to grow rapidly, focusing on rural and suburban areas. In 1990, Walmart became the nation's largest retailer, and by 2002, it had expanded internationally. Today, Walmart operates over 11,000 stores worldwide, offering a wide range of products at competitive prices and employing over 2.3 million associates globally.
