Comments on: Hell Hath Frozen Over: Seventh Generation Works with Walmart

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:04:50 +0000

Oh dear, come on people it’s all a PR exercise for Seventh Generation. Walmart are probably not a great company but at least you get what’s written on the tin with them. Seventh Generation is a PR machine that only rubbished Walmart because it was in their interests to do so. I think I prefer Walmart, at least you know what you’re getting with them. Do you know who runs Seventh Generation? A load of poxy bankers. Really, it’s all a con. Wake up dudes.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:14:00 +0000

I certainly agree with your position on the importance of the time it may take to negotiate a possible marriage between seventh generation and walmart. If Walmart has the majority of mainstream consumers, why not hone in on that population with marketing that appeals to them, and simultaneously offer products which are made with a mindful and conscious eye toward our rapidly declining environment.
Go for it Seventh Generation!

By: Sharon

Sharon — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:13:01 +0000

By: Sharon

Sharon — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:12:53 +0000

By: Gabriel

Gabriel — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:37:51 +0000

Well thought out, Winokur, and an interesting quandary for sure. Can we continue to fight against the obvious “evils” of a company like Walmart when they have the exposure base to legitimize and push a product line with obvious “goods?” At what point will we be forced to recognize the permanence of the mega-store and focus our energies into molding it instead of fighting it. Another curious iteration of this is WalMart’s role in health care, offering prescription medicines cheaper than the copay on most insurance policies (if one even has insurance).
Of course, one of the dangers here is that I would go to WalMart for 7th G. sundries and come home with: a digital camera, greeting cards, halloween candy, and a slip-n-slide.
Thought you might enjoy this short article about the growth of 7th G. prior to the WalMart deal – they were doing pretty well.
http://www.nrdc.org/onearth/04win/sevgen1.asp

By: dbruce

dbruce — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:13:44 +0000

Seventh Generation has an opportunity to scale up its sustainability impact by working with the giant. I think that is pretty good risk to take for the world. So Stensson’s comments appear to be more about wishing to remain a fringe consumer for identity purposes. Seventh Generation has a core mission that they are keen to adhere to. It is appropriate to be cautious with Wal*Mart given their past. But moving to main stream is not the problem, it is the solution.

By: White Rhino

White Rhino — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:45:15 +0000

hey you guys, love the ideas. dwinokur, where I sit, if your impulse is to move humanity fast, I would try to push you to see the present form called mainstream as a form in need of upgrading/evolving. Not sure nature has a mainstream as there are so many contributaries that feed each stream – until we see whole systems – until we hold that in our every deliberation we are creating well being for the next seventh generation, fast only resigns us to a system that is inefficient – ohhh to move us all to see WHOLES and Preferred States – the critical path from there become obvious. White Rhino

By: dwinokur

dwinokur — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:47:11 +0000

Stensson — you make some excellent points! While I don’t think that it detracts from my overall thesis, your point that 7th Gen has had a huge positive impact already is absolutely valid. They’ve been pioneers in sustainable business, and served as an inspirational model to many other players. As you point out, many in the mainstream are transitioning towards their practices.
Ultimately, it seems to me that the question becomes more one of speed. We can wait for the mainstream players to gradually adopt 7th Gen’s practices, or we can urge companies like 7th Gen to displace the old and become the new mainstream. Because of my concern about how much time we (humanity) have to turn it all around, I’m in favor of the fastest option.
To me, the quickest solution appears to be having 7th Gen grow quickly and become the new mainstream. But I’m willing to be convinced otherwise …

By: Dirk P'Laur

Dirk P'Laur — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:18:08 +0000

Stensson – I think that’s a valid statement. But maybe what’s really intended, and what’ really happening is that “mainstream” is shifting more towards Seventh Generation – and that can’t be bad!

By: Stensson

Stensson — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:21:15 +0000

You make the assertion that ‘if Seventh Generation wants to make a real impact down the line, they must transition from fringe to mainstream.’ Really? Have they not already had a positive impact in so many wasy (CSR reporting, corporate responsibility, the emergence of GreenWorks) while being a niche player? And why transition to mainstream? Why not mainstream transition to them?
Lastly, what do you mean by suggesting that Walmart is ‘a non-negotiable hurdle to becoming a dominant industry player, not an also-ran?’ Is Seventh Generation an also-ran? I would argue that there is an abundance of folks from all demographics who embrace the brand. Also, why the emphasis on dominant? I have never purchased something because it was dominant. I have often purchased something because it was the best. Look at our current economic collapse to see the beauty of dominant (sarcasm).
Seventh Generation can do as they wish. I only hope that don’t ‘transition to mainstream.’ And I hope they focus on being the best versus ‘dominant.’