Posted on 11/09/2006 9:44:56 AM PST by peggybac
No. 1 retailer has decided to abandon its generic 'Happy Holidays' greeting in favor of 'Merry Christmas.' NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Wal-Mart has told its employees that it's OK to once again greet shoppers by saying "Merry Christmas" this holiday season instead of the generic "Happy Holidays." CNN confirmed that Wal-Mart will announce Thursday that it plans to use the phrase "Merry Christmas" in products and around its stores this holiday season. The announcement comes a year after religious groups such as The American Family Association and The Catholic League boycotted retailers including Wal-Mart last holiday season for excluding the word "Christmas" from products sold in stores. "We, quite frankly, have learned a lesson from last year," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Linda Blakley told USA Today in a separate report. "We're not afraid to use the term 'Merry Christmas.' We'll use it early, and we'll use it often." Besides resurrecting its Christmas pitch, the retailer is also determined to be the leader in this year's holiday price wars. The November-December holiday shopping period is a critical time for merchants since it can account for as much as 50 percent of their profits and sales. To that end, Wal-Mart was the first out of the gate to chop prices on toys and electronics much ahead of its competitors like Target (Charts), Toys 'R Us, Costco (Charts) and others. To support its Christmas deals, the report said Wal-Mart will launch TV ads next week that trumpet "Christmas." It's changing the name of its seasonal decorations department to "The Christmas Shop" from "The Holiday Shop." Moreover, Wal-Mart stores will play Christmas carols throughout the holiday period and about 60 percent more merchandise will be labeled as "Christmas" rather than "holiday" items, the paper said.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
I do believe they already support military families.
No tinsle, i find it distracting.
I noticed yesterday that Chick-fil-a has a "Christmas Child" drive for those that want to bring in toys for kids at Christmas. Also say "Merry Christmas" in a Target ad
Merry Christmas ping!
Is that like a "country club Marxist" ?
I find that to be very offensive. They had better say Happy Festivus also.
What's "gooble" mean?
ROFL! The cashier I always look for when I shop at Walmart is an immigrant from Germany.
We were talking about this last year, how pitiful it was that people were 'offended' if someone said the word Christmas in their presence. She said "Screw that P.C. crap...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!"
We wished each other a Merry Christmas loudly and proudly until everyone within earshot was grinning.
I'll have to get her reaction to this newest development.
:-)
A noise a turkey makes.
Or what Jesse Jackson does today.
I don't understand what the big deal is if people say "Happy Holidays." Is it that offensive to be as inclusive as possible during the holiday season?
Ah, forgot all about Jesse's little racket. Thanks for the reminder!
This is just a standard click-through sales strategy that's also done by Amazon and other online retailers. The web site puts up a "buy this book" (or whatever) ad, and whenever people click from there and buy it, the originating site gets a percentage of the sale. In common terms, the site was the sales lead, so it gets its commission.
It's not like Wal-Mart specifically inked a special deal with just this group as people want you to think. Anyone can just go online and register for this affiliate program. It's a good way to make money if you have a site with lots of traffic.
actually Her Highness Hillary was a former WM Board of Director
:-}
Ah, then you mean "gobble," with one O and two Bs.
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