Walmart is the retailer founded by Sam Walton in 1962 that operates the Sam’s Club chain.
Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas, on July 2, 1962. The company focused on low prices and efficient distribution, first expanding through smaller communities before becoming a national and international retailer. It was incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in 1969 and changed its legal name to Walmart Inc. in 2018.
Sam’s Club is Walmart’s membership-warehouse division, launched in 1983 and named after the company’s founder. Walmart also operates supercenters, discount stores, neighborhood markets, e-commerce services, and international businesses.
Walmart is frequently compared with Costco, but the two companies use different retail models. Costco relies heavily on paid memberships and warehouse-style stores, while Walmart’s business includes a much broader mix of general merchandise, groceries, online retail, and membership services.