Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said yesterday that it is rolling out a new advertising campaign with the slogan, “Save Money. Live Better,” replacing the motto “Always low prices” after 19 years.

The new slogan comes as Wal-Mart is incorporating more of an emotional tone into its advertising as it tries to boost sales at its U.S. stores.

Its back-to-school ads showed actors posing as customers, talking about how Wal-Mart helped them save money amid high gasoline prices, a contrast to its previous ads featuring a smiley face character zooming around stores, slashing prices.

Wal-Mart said it will begin running TV ads illustrating “how saving money on the little things adds up and helps families live better.”

Its back-to-school advertising campaign was accompanied by price cuts of as much as 50 per cent on 16,000 items like backpacks and school supplies.
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NEW YORK — Wal-Mart Stores on Tuesday unveiled its plans to entice U.S. shoppers to spend their tax rebates in its discount stores, offering to cash the checks for free and saying it has cut prices on key items such as cereal and lunch meat. The world’s also …

BENTONVILLE, Ark. The world’s largest retailer said Tuesday that no purchase will be required. Wal-Mart typically charges up to $3 to cash payroll or government checks. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says customers can also, without charge, load the stimulus also …

As many as 250 new jobs could be coming to northern Bucks County when Wal-Mart completes a planned expansion of its Hilltown Township store, the store?s manager said.

The department store giant wants to convert its building at Hilltown Crossings Shopping Center on Route 309 into one of its Supercenters, complete with grocery aisles that would fill a void left when the Clemens supermarket at the property closed late last year.


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Saks Incorporated to Present at Lehman Brothers Eleventh Annual Retail Conference (Business Wire)
NEW YORK—-Stephen I. Sadove, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saks Incorporated , will make a presentation at the Lehman Brothers Eleventh Annual Retail Conference at 9:30 a.m.

Chainsaws violated US pollution laws, government says (AP)
About 200,000 imported chainsaws violated U.S. air pollution laws, the Justice Department said Thursday, costing a Taiwanese manufacturer and three U.S. companies $2 million in fines.

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Asda has commissioned print management firm JPS as it prepares to launch a 1,000-page print catalogue to rival Tesco Direct, PrintWeek can reveal. A spokesman at Asda confirmed the catalogue would feature 10,000 non-food products 8,000 more than the also …

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said yesterday that it is rolling out a new advertising campaign with the slogan, “Save Money. Live Better,” replacing the motto “Always low prices” after 19 years.

The new slogan comes as Wal-Mart is incorporating more of an emotional tone into its advertising as it tries to boost sales at its U.S. stores.

Its back-to-school ads showed actors posing as customers, talking about how Wal-Mart helped them save money amid high gasoline prices, a contrast to its previous ads featuring a smiley face character zooming around stores, slashing prices.

Wal-Mart said it will begin running TV ads illustrating “how saving money on the little things adds up and helps families live better.”

Its back-to-school advertising campaign was accompanied by price cuts of as much as 50 per cent on 16,000 items like backpacks and school supplies.
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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said its Sam’s Club wholesale club chain is limiting the sale of some rice to four bags per member visit because of what it described as ’supply and demand trends.’ Jasmine, basmati and long-grain white Continue …

BENTONVILLE, Ark.: Sam’s Club, the membership warehouse division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is limiting how much rice customers can buy because of what it calls ‘recent supply and demand trends.’ The broader chain of Wal-Mart stores has no plans to limit Continue …

As many as 250 new jobs could be coming to northern Bucks County when Wal-Mart completes a planned expansion of its Hilltown Township store, the store?s manager said.

The department store giant wants to convert its building at Hilltown Crossings Shopping Center on Route 309 into one of its Supercenters, complete with grocery aisles that would fill a void left when the Clemens supermarket at the property closed late last year.


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BofA to end credit facility with Sears (at bizjournals.com)

[$$] Eddie Lampert Likes AutoZone (at Barron’s Online)
The hedge-fund manager and Sears chairman bought $94 million more in stock.

Legislation targets Wal-Mart tax shelter
Colorado Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, said Tuesday she’ll introduce a bill that targets what she called ‘a tax-evasion scheme’ used by Wal-Mart and other large corporations. The proposed bill would require companies that earn profits to identify what

The debate over the safety of common plastics continues to heat up, as major players take action against polycarbonates, which contain the chemical Bisphenol A (aka BPA). On April 19 the Canadian Government began a 60-day public comment period on whether Continue …

NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores shrugged off weak consumer spending to remain atop the 2008 Fortune 500 list, edging Exxon Mobil Corp. for the second straight year in the magazine’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest publicly traded companies. Fortune Continue …

Wal-Mart ‘comfortable’ with fiscal year capex goal
The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, hedge funds and more NEW YORK, April 17 (Reuters) - The treasurer of Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday the retailer is ‘very confident’ and ‘very comfortable’ it can stay

Nalgene, Wal-Mart back away from BPA
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As many as 250 new jobs could be coming to northern Bucks County when Wal-Mart completes a planned expansion of its Hilltown Township store, the store?s manager said.

The department store giant wants to convert its building at Hilltown Crossings Shopping Center on Route 309 into one of its Supercenters, complete with grocery aisles that would fill a void left when the Clemens supermarket at the property closed late last year.


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T.J. Maxx to locate in Clermont center (at bizjournals.com)

Quick Hits: J.C. Penney Reins in Expansion (at Minyanville.com)

Penney moderates 2008 growth plans amid economic concerns (AP)
The chairman and chief executive of J.C. Penney Co. said late Tuesday that the department store chain is stretching out its five-year store growth strategy because of the economic downturn, with plans to open 36 new stores this year instead of the 50 it had projected.

As many as 250 new jobs could be coming to northern Bucks County when Wal-Mart completes a planned expansion of its Hilltown Township store, the store?s manager said.

The department store giant wants to convert its building at Hilltown Crossings Shopping Center on Route 309 into one of its Supercenters, complete with grocery aisles that would fill a void left when the Clemens supermarket at the property closed late last year.


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The chairman and chief executive of J.C. Penney Co. said late Tuesday that the department store chain is stretching out its five-year store growth strategy because of the economic downturn, with plans to open 36 new stores this year instead of the 50 it had projected. Continue …

Reacting to the economic slowdown, JC. Penney Co. will open fewer new stores this year than originally planned while stepping up its efforts to attract frugal shoppers away from rivals with new brands and marketing pitches. Continue …

Shares of Macy’s are falling in pre-market trading after a JPMorgan analyst downgraded the department store chain, saying current profit estimates are too high. Continue …