Shop Talk

Rockin’ with AC/DC…even if you don’t know who they are

When Wal-Mart noticed its AC/DC  t-shirts were among some of its best-selling, the world’s biggest retailer realized some type of partnership with the rock band might make sense.

Now, as AC/DC prepares for the Oct 20 launch of its latest album, that partnership is coming to life — it goes far beyond shirts.

Wal-Mart, which was chosen by the band to exclusively sell the “Black Ice” album in its stores in the U.S., is setting up ”Rock Again AC/DC Stores” inside all of its 3,500 Walmart locations. They will be stocked with the new album, AC/DC clothes, DVDs, the band’s earlier albums, games, and an area to try out the new AC/DC Rock Band video game.

Wal-Mart is also making its presence known in Manhattan, an island currently Wal-Mart free. On Friday, it parked its ”Black Ice” truck in Times Square and set up  a stage so passers-by could try out the new AC/DC Rock Band video game.

Melissa O’Brien, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman, said the band appeals to everyone from 50-year-olds to 15-year-olds, and the retailer was watching to see if the AC/DC push would attract new shoppers to its stores.

At Times Square, 39-year-old Bill Voccia said he was ”definitely one of the band’s biggest fans.” A member of an AC/DC tribute band, he could not wait to get his hands on the new album. Voccia said he prefers to buy CDs rather than get his music online – a good thing considering AC/DC is among a handful of musicians who refuse to put their music on iTunes.

Juan Delaluz could also be described as a big fan. The 13-year-old was dressed in an AC/DC hat, an AC/DC t-shirt and AC/DC pin. Delaluz, who informed his teachers he would miss school on Friday because of the Time Square event, said he was one of the only ones among his friends who still buy CDs — everyone else listens to music on their iPods.

Wal-Mart takes Manhattan?

Wal-Mart is joining the Manhattan pop-up brigade.   Starting this week in New York City, the retailer will put up a temporary store in Times Square and have a truck roving around the city to celebrate the launch of AC/DC’s new album.    The rock band has chosen to exclusively sell its latest album, Black Ice, through the discount retailer in the United States, and Wal-Mart will also exclusively sell the AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack video game.   This week, AC/DC fans — and curious onlookers — can visit the Black Ice truck to listen to the AC/DC album in advance of its release on Oct 20.   On Saturday night, at the Times Square MTV store, Wal-Mart and MTV will unveil the “AC/DC Rock Band store” and sell the first copies of the new album.   Wal-Mart joins a long list of retailers who have stormed the Big Apple,  setting up pop-up stores on an island where they have no permanent location.   Last month, Target set up temporary “bodegas” in Manhattan to show off its line of designer merchandise.

 (Reuters photo)