WMD's - Wal-Mart's Marketing Desecration

Some might see thins as good news but . . . I don't think so. Sounds like peddling the word of God for a $1 billion profit

Wal-Mart Stores in the United States have seen the light. The world's biggest retailer has discovered Christian-themed merchandise is one of the fastest-growing categories around. With offerings ranging from best-selling books and videos including "The Purpose-Driven Life" and "Veggie Tales", Wal-Mart's annual sales from Christian-themed merchandise, which is estimated to already exceed $1 billion annually, is growing at a rapid pace.

On a company-wide basis, Wal-Mart now offers 550 different Christian music titles and more than 1,200 Christian book titles. While Sears and Target sell Christian music, neither have pursued the Christian product category as aggressively as Wal-Mart, says C. Britt Beemer, chairman and founder of America's Research Group, a consumer behavior research and strategic marketing firm.

"Right now, this category is not even a drop in the bucket for Wal-Mart," says Beemer, referring to the retailer's revenue of $239.82 billion in 2002. "It will just keep getting bigger and bigger for them, which is why Wal-Mart is looking at this as a huge opportunity for the future."
[Carrie Coolidge, 15 September 2003 (c) 2003 Forbes.com
http://www.forbes.c om/2003/09/15/cz_cc_0915wmt.html]