by: David Wigder
Wal-Mart is sending its employees back to school – all 1.3MM of them – to teach them “how to better take care of themselves and the environment”.
It is easily to dismiss such a program as simply self-serving. After all, a healthier workforce means fewer sick days and reduced health care insurance costs. Moreover, being viewed as a proponent of the environment will improve public perception for this 800-pound retailing gorilla.
Yet, there is a greater lesson to be learned by all green marketers: the best salespeople for a product are those that are also its best customers. This is the “hair club for men” version of green marketing (Remember: “I am not just the president…I am also a client”). By sending employees back to school, Wal-Mart hopes to turn its employees into passionate advocates for everything from its eco-friendly products (Wal-Mart carries energy efficient bulbs) to its organic produce. This is a lesson that every corporate executive should memorize.
Original Post: http://marketinggreen.wordpress.com/2006/06/25/back-to-school-at-wal-mart/
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