Walmart’s New Logo
Wal-Mart is now Walmart and they’ve got a happy, shiny, new logo:
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The “Save Money. Live Better.” branding is probably a step forward. I’m rather dubious about the non-hyphenated name change, although that was actually the store’s original name.
The logo is an improvement over its very dated predecessor but I share Armin‘s reaction of, “Really? This is the best Walmart can do”? Tyler Cowen thinks it “at least ten years overdue.” Andrew Sullivan is non-committal but passes on a critical review.
A history of Wal-Mart/Walmart’s logos below the fold. Interestingly, aside from the informal lower case font and curious asterisk, this is very much Back to the Future, resembling the very first logo much more than any of its successors.
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The lukewarm reactions are an encouraging thing, from Wally World’s perspective. Look;
They’re already the market leader in the class, and therefore the new logo isn’t going to substantially increase their position by increasing recognition, which is what a good graphic (logo) is supposed to do. What the change does as you suggest, is replace a logo that was getting somewhat dated, which, the thinking goes, eventually would have detracted from their position.
This new one, then, is a preventitive measure.
If you want the honest truth, I doubt it’ll be much noticed… and in the end, that’s what they’re after, here.
How about a contest for best new slogan for Walmart? For example
Better living through Chinese imports
sounds like a winner to me.
Indeed.
Apropos of nothing in particular, incidentally, I’ve gotten two more comments on this post than I have of the Iran nukes post, despite the latter being published earlier and having more substantive information. For whatever that’s worth…
I was going to comment on that post but decided to frame my comment as an update (which I’m working on).
Yes well, who wants to compete with “JewSA”?
Gimme a chance, I’m still catching up on this morning’s mail. Busy day before a holiday, ya know.
Love the new slogan. Not sure I like the new logo. It’s too timid and friendly. The little asterisk/sunburst thing is atrocious. The whole thing reminds me of the Brighthouse logo.
Having worked at a US WalMart vendor, the star was introduced when Sam died. “He was our guiding star” was supposed to be the rationale at the time.