Wal-Mart

Competitors:

KMart

Target

Other Information:

Year website launched:  2000

Category:  Mass Merchant

Wal-Mart is the world's largest store, famous for "falling prices" and huge retail locations.  Walmarts headquarters is in Bentonville, AK.   While it is a huge big-box discount retailer, it is not on the list of the top 10 internet retailers;  it is #14.

Quote from

www.walmart.com

"Save Money-

Live Better"

Walmart's website is searchable by product categories.  It is a primarily text based site, with product prices as good as you will find anywhere.  This is due to Wal-Mart's size:  it is able to negotiate the best prices from its suppliers because it is such a huge mass merchant.

Wal Mart has a new logo starting in September 2008, and a new tag-line:  "Save money.  Live better."  Changing a logo like this is incredibly risky for a company as large as Walmart, and you may wonder why such a powerhouse company as Wallmart would do such a thing as change it's logo.  One reason is that the new logo looks better online, with a san-serif font and complementary colors.  As Wlamart is increasing its online presence, a new more web friendly logo was needed.  Additionally, Walmart is feeling the pressure for competitors like Target and mid-tier retailers, and needed to refresh its image. 

Because of its size and marketing power, Walmaet is an socio-economic-engine, meaning that it influences not only consumer and competitor activity, but influences the market itself.