"Sam's Club opened its very first "club" in Oklahoma in 1983, and since its inception, the brand has expanded nationwide. With nearly 600 locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, this membership-based warehouse chain is actually tied to another popular retailer - Walmart Inc. The parent company was established and named Sam's Club after Walmart founder Sam Walton, and the two stores may have more in common than you think."
"Walmart didn't acquire Sam's Club, but it developed the concept as the company's response to the booming warehouse club era of the late 1970s and 1980s, when big-box stores like Costco (previously known as Price Club) were first established. It was based on similar cost-efficiency principles of Walmart, which aligned perfectly with bulk-discount pricing. No wonder there's been a longstanding rivalry between Sam's Club and Costco."
"While Sam's Club has 30 of its own distribution facilities, there are 17 or more distribution centers that service both Sam's Club and Walmart, highlighting the connection between the two nestled brands. This helps the two chains rely on each other's infrastructures and save money on transportation costs. Of course, this, in turn, helps keep costs low and provides an edge over other membership stores."
Sam's Club launched in Oklahoma in 1983 and has grown to nearly 600 membership warehouse locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Walmart developed the Sam's Club concept as a response to the warehouse club boom of the late 1970s and 1980s, applying Walmart's cost-efficiency and bulk-discount pricing principles. Sam's Club operates 30 dedicated distribution facilities and shares at least 17 distribution centers with Walmart, enabling shared infrastructure, lower transportation costs, and competitive pricing. The chain deploys member-focused innovations such as "Scan & Go" mobile checkout for goods and gas. Both Sam's Club and Walmart prioritize affordability and accessibility for shoppers.
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