Two hired to overhaul marketing at Wal-Mart gone.

Jarthur001 · Dec 9, 2006

1st... - Wal-Mart Partners With National Gay and Lesbian Group (I think this was last Aug.)

In an unprecedented push, Wal-Mart Stores has hired a gay-marketing shop, joined the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and begun discussions with activist groups about extending domestic-partnership benefits to its employees. ... Despite an ongoing review for its $578 million ad account, Wal-Mart hired Witeck-Combs Communications, a marketing shop known for its work targeting the gay and lesbian consumer market, according to Bob Witeck, president of the Washington-based firm. Wal-Mart would not confirm the assignment and Mr. Witeck declined to comment on the “nature of the relationship,” but added: “We work in more of a consulting role with most of our clients.”
Founded in 1993, the eight-person agency's client list boasts automotive brands Volvo, Land Rover, and Jaguar, in addition to American Airlines, Citigroup and at least a dozen nonprofits, such as the American Association of People with Disabilities.

“This partnership shows Wal-Mart is changing,” Mr. Wexler said. “It's worth noting they declined to publicize this partnership and left it up to the chamber. Wal-Mart is very eager to publicize partnerships. It's possible they fear a backlash from their conservative consumer base.”
Click to expand...

To which the Gay Rights said...

Hmmm, wonder how the Christian Taliban will react to this news? I'd guess not well, if the amount of complaints the fundies generated when Wal-Mart publicly supported selling liquor is any guideline.

The unspoken reality is that Wal-Mart, in order to continue expanding quickly enough to sustain growth, has to penetrate the urban environments, where the Christian Taliban are not as strong, and little nuances like living wages and gay rights are more important than fundamentalism. I wouldn't be surprised if, over the next ten years, Wal-Mart splits off a new division that focuses on urban stores, with a new name.
Click to expand...

Then came the boycott....

Christian Conservatives Boycott Wal-Mart For Promoting "The Radical Homosexual Agenda"...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/11/21/christian-conservatives-b_n_34646.html
Click to expand...

Sales down......

Forget the critics, labor unions, activists and politicians who have tried to stir up trouble for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. The company's latest problems come from a far more serious quarter: consumers.

Despite hundreds of price cuts designed to lure early-bird Christmas shoppers, November was Wal-Mart's worst month in a decade, with sales dipping below last year's levels. And December isn't expected to be much better.

"The good old days are over," said Mark Husson, an analyst with HSBC Securities in New York. "And some people in the market don't seem to be able to accept that (Wal-Mart) is not going to go back to the rates of growth it used to enjoy."

Indeed, Wall Street's Wal-Mart believers say this is the time to buy, noting that the stock has essentially stagnated since a peak in 1999, while earnings have more than doubled. The company is on track to post annual sales of more than $350 billion and profit of close to $12 billion this year.
Click to expand...

http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/...business/f3e1a266c47f4459872572380026905b.txt

http://www.modbee.com/business/story/13074340p-13726796c.html

Was this because of the Boycott? Maybe not, but the slide started just after the boycott was reported. Everyone else seems to be looking at other things that caused the dip. Time will tell.

Now the department heads are gone that hired Witeck-Combs Communications....

By LOUISE STORY and MICHAEL BARBARO
Published: December 6, 2006
Two top executives hired about a year ago to help overhaul marketing at Wal-Mart Stores have stepped down from their posts, the company said yesterday.

The departures coincide with slowing sales growth and several marketing stumbles at Wal-Mart, like designer-inspired fashions that have failed to sell.

Julie Roehm, senior vice president for marketing communications, and Sean Womack, vice president for communications architecture, left the company on Monday, a spokeswoman, Mona Williams, said, confirming a report on BrandWeek.com.

Ms. Williams would not say why they left, whether they would be replaced or whether Wal-Mart would reassess any decisions they had made.

But this holiday season, as sales have slipped, the company has suddenly returned to a low-price message.

Mrs. Roehm and Mr. Womack were instrumental in Wal-Mart’s decision this year to replace its longtime advertising agencies, a major event in the advertising industry. Wal-Mart is one of the largest retail advertisers in the country, spending close to a billion dollars on advertising last year, according to TNS Media Intelligence, a research firm.

In late October, Wal-Mart hired DraftFCB, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies, and Carat USA of the Aegis Group to handle $570 million of its advertising after a much watched review.

Sometimes after executives who pick ad agencies leave, companies re-evaluate those decisions, and sometimes they stick with their picks. Wal-Mart declined to comment.

Ms. Roehm, in a statement, said her work at Wal-Mart had reached a natural conclusion. “One of my first orders of business was to help spearhead a comprehensive agency review,” she said. “Now that I have established the marketing communications organization and completed the agency review, it’s time to tackle my next challenge.”

Wal-Mart, however, is still deciding which agency to hire to handle its multicultural marketing.

Mr. Womack declined to comment.
Click to expand...

Is Witeck next to go? We shall see.

LadyEagle · Dec 9, 2006

I think the use of the term "Christian Taliban" is rather revolting and disgusting. If the purpose of posting this is to repulse/smear/offend some of conservative Christians on this board, never fear, you have succeeded....This is just more typical jargon from the liberal elite, i.e., Huffington and serves no useful purpose as "news" in this forum. This is being transferred to the politics forum.

carpro · Dec 9, 2006

LadyEagle said:

I think the use of the term "Christian Taliban" is rather revolting and disgusting. If the purpose of posting this is to repulse/smear/offend some of conservative Christians on this board, never fear, you have succeeded....This is just more typical jargon from the liberal elite, i.e., Huffington and serves no useful purpose as "news" in this forum. This is being transferred to the politics forum.
Click to expand...

Considering his other post concerning Wal-Mart and the "Religious Right", I'd say you've assessed his intentions quite well.:applause:

Two hired to overhaul marketing at Wal-Mart gone.

Jarthur001 Active Member

LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

carpro Well-Known Member
Site Supporter

Useful Searches

Two hired to overhaul marketing at Wal-Mart gone.

Jarthur001 Active Member

LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

carpro Well-Known Member Site Supporter

carpro Well-Known Member
Site Supporter