Comedy Central's The Daily Show recently ran a satirical "expose" about how the ailing economy means some unfortunate folks in Beverly Hills can't afford their cosmetic surgery or Botox injections. Given such a backdrop, maybe it's a good time to be Wal-Mart
According to The Wall Street Journal, the new logo will include "white letters on a burnt-orange background followed by a white starburst," and Wal-Mart will lose that pesky hyphen (for a decade, the hyphen was depicted as a star shape on the old-school logo). Wal-Mart hasn't officially announced the new design, and didn't return the Journal's phone calls seeking comment.
Wal-Mart has been on a much-needed rejuvenation kick for some time now. Last September, it changed its motto from "Always low prices" to "Save money. Live better." It's shown an ability to think outside the box, and illustrated that it can be a powerful force in environmental initiatives, such as its push for compact fluorescent light bulbs. (However, Home Depot
Of course, Wal-Mart has had many critics; I've been one of them at times. Many of its practices over the years have angered communities and consumers alike. The fact that Wal-Mart needed to improve its public image became quite clear in recent years. And although the current economic turmoil makes it easier for Wal-Mart to claim it's a "good guy," if I were a Wal-Mart investor, I'd be glad to see it continue to try to work on its image. Public goodwill is important.
Honestly, I've always preferred discounters Target
Whether a burnt-orange logo with a sunburst is a red-hot idea, it's good to know Wal-Mart's still got an eye on polishing up its image. It's no time to rest on any laurels, and I think Wal-Mart shareholders want the peace of mind of knowing that it's going to appeal to a wide range of consumers in good times and bad.