Posted February 6, 2006

Robert Gabler Lecture in Geography: "Unequal Competition Among Chains of Supercenters: Kmart, Target, and Wal-Mart."

The Department of Geography is pleased to announce that Dr. Thomas Graff of the University of Arkansas will present the Robert Gabler Lecture "Unequal Competition Among Chains of Supercenters: Kmart, Target, and Wal-Mart" Friday, February 17, 2006 at 7:00 in Morgan Hall 109.

Dr. Graff examines the locations of and the competition among Kmart, Target, and Wal-Mart supercenters. Wal-Mart has the greatest number of supercenters and is driving the expansion of the supercenter format. Both Kmart and Target have clustered their supercenters in a small number of metropolitan markets. In contrast to Wal-Mart and Kmart, Target has focused on a middle-class rather than a blue-collar clientele. Now Kmart is struggling following a declaration of bankruptcy. Wal-Mart has largely defeated its supercenter competitors and now is confronting the major grocery chains for grocery sales.

Dr. Graff, a WIU alumnus, is a professor and past chair in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arkansas. For the past 15 years he has pursued research on the geography of retail activities, with particular emphasis on Wal-Mart.

The lecture is named for Dr. Robert Gabler who served as Chairperson of the Geography Department and Director of International Programs. He is the author of numerous books including Introduction to Physical Geography, Essentials of Physical Geography (now in its seventh edition), and Human Geography: People Cultures and Landscapes. He is a Past-President of both the Illinois Geographical Society and the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE). The recipient of NCGE's George J. Miller Distinguished Service Award, Dr. Gabler was named one of the "Leaders in American Geography" by Barton and Karan's 1992 book of the same name.

The public is invited to attend. Admission is free.