Have you seen the new WalMart logo? My son told me about it a few days ago and I finally saw it online this morning and read the Business Week article about it. It's amusing to think that there are people worrying about how the name looks and what the change in logo means. Is WalMart hoping to be viewed as a "kinder, gentler" company? Are they trying to evoke an "eco-friendly" image? Will more people shop at WalMart if it has a newer, trendier logo?
I'm sorry, but I must be a very bad consumer because I couldn't have told you what the old WalMart logo looked like! LOL Oh, I probably could have picked it out of a lineup...maybe. But I can tell you for a fact that I don't shop at WalMart because of the way their name looks on the front of the building. I shop at WalMart because I'm a sucker for "one-stop shopping" and within a 20-mile radius it's about all we have. I could go to five other stores to complete my shopping, and I occaisionally do, but I like to get my shopping done in the least amount of time possible. In, out, go do something else!
Other stores and restaurants have changed their name and image over the years. We've seen stores use different colors and typeface and spokesmen and slogans. And while consumers might flock to the new for while, I don't think we are really that stupid. We soon catch on to the real depth of the change. If you are trying to sell us the same empty promises in a new package we'll move on.
I'm as attracted to new packaging as the next person. I like pretty colors and I know from my years of experience in advertising that type fonts and shapes and sizes make an impact on our brains. Humans are consistently drawn to certain combinations of colors and images. But the bottom line is still the product inside. They can redesign KFC any way they want and I'm still not going to eat there! Haven't eaten there in 15 years and I'm not sure what would ever entice me to do so. Also not a big fan of Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Target, or Office Depot. Stores, restaurants, or individual products appeal to people for very personal reasons. I'm not sure we can even explain it, but there are enough people around to support a variety of businesses and that's what keeps it interesting.
I'll be going to WalMart later today and I'll try to look at the name before I hurry in to shop. I'm sure our little store in the middle of the country will be one of the last to receive a new sign. They know us old country people probably won't even notice.
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