The blogosphere is abuzz with the latest news on Wal-Mart. No, it isn’t about $4 generic drugs, labor practices or politics. The world’s biggest retailer has decided to wish you a Merry Christmas.
Wal-Mart and other retailers took some heat in recent years for switching to the generic “Happy Holidays”, fueling boycotts and talk of a War on Christmas. Wal-Mart said on Thursday that Christmas will feature prominently in its advertising and in-store signs this year. The “Holiday Shop” will now be the “Christmas Shop”. Christmas carols will be played in stores. And greeters are free to greet as they see fit.
“We encourage our associates at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club to greet customers utilizing various glad tidings inclusive of, but not limited to, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah and Feliz Navidad, to name a few,” Wal-Mart said in a statement released on Thursday.
Rob Frankel, who writes about marketing on his blog, calls it a “Hail Mary shot across the bough of retail America”.
Alex Rosenleaf, aka The Fighting Liberal, takes a more cynical view.
So what do you think? Do holiday greetings matter?
And what about “The Feats of Strength”?
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2 comments so far
I have no problem being greeted in the wrapping paper or understocked toy section with “Happy Christmas”, but leave it out of the grocery department.
My personal issue with the whole “Holiday Cheer” thing in retail is that it gets used in places where, frankly, I’d be shopping regardless of the time of year.
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