Apall-Mart to cut prices on its toxic toys in order to stimulate early Christmas shopping.....

[marmar]

from MarketWatch:



Wal-Mart jump starts Christmas with toy price cuts

By Andria Cheng, MarketWatch


NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it will cut prices on some of the most popular toys and speed up the opening of Christmas shops in its stores nationwide as it tries to lure budget-conscious shoppers and jump start its biggest selling season,.

Ten toys, from butterfly-winged Barbie Mariposa to Fur Real Newborn Animals, are priced at $10 apiece, Bentonville, Ark.-based company said Wednesday.

Wal-Mart said its moves to get an early start on the holiday selling season are warranted for several reasons. Shoppers are facing higher energy prices and food costs as well as a sluggish economy and the credit crunch. They are expected to start their Christmas shopping earlier and make other changes to help stretch their holiday budgets.

While a majority of U.S. shoppers don't plan to cut back on how much they spend this Christmas season, more than one-third plan to buy less expensive items and to buy for fewer people this year, Wal-Mart said, citing a survey of 1,000 adults conducted in September on its behalf.

The stakes are high for Wal-Mart and other retailers. The holiday season is when many retailers make their profit for the year. The National Retail Federation said U.S. retailers should brace for their worst holiday season since 2002, while other forecasts are even gloomier.

Value has been the key message by retailers this year as consumers, battered by economic concerns and a volatile stock market, curtail discretionary purchases and seek bargains. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/wal-mart-cuts-toy-prices-boost/story.aspx?guid=%7BAD612A5B%2D2BBC%2D440E%2D9326%2D858AE678CA2A%7D

[billyoc]

1. Season's greetings from billyoc, Wal-Mart!