Walmart finally admits that its name is commercial poison.
From Wal-Mart Watch, discussing a Financial Times article about Walmart’s new Marketside stores:
Marketside’s small format isn’t the only thing that distinguishes the pilot program from other Wal-Mart stores. Marketsides have completely independent design elements and don’t mention the word “Wal-Mart.”
[Emphasis added.]
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t Walmart spending millions of dollars so that whenever Americans hear the name of the company we’ll think of sunshine, happiness and fluffy white bunnies? I guess that re-branding thing isn’t working out too well otherwise they wouldn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
I think you’re reading this the wrong way. Even for people who like the company, the name “Wal-Mart” conjures images of huge stores filled with cheap merchandise and no frills. Marketside is a completely different concept.
But is it a change to win,a change we can all believe in?
[...] Wouldn’t you much rather admit you work for Marketside? [...]