Originally Posted By cmpaley >>In bringing back Christmas, I guess we are safe from having a "Day of the Dead" Oct 31 holiday and a "Fluffy Bunny" holiday.<< The "Day of the Dead" is November 2, not October 31. Halloween is "All Hallows Eve" (Hallow Even) or the night before November 1, All Saints Day. You know how Jewish people start their celebrations at sundown? Christians used to do the same, which is why Catholics still have vigil Masses for holy days of obligation which are just as valid as going on the day of obligation. All Saints Day is one of those days, so... Oh, and before I forget: + MERRY + CHRISTMAS!!! + *sprinkles holy water*
Originally Posted By smeeeko I like to shop at Target.. and all my Jewish, Buddhist & non-denominational buddies can come shop with me! =) more Hallowe'en candy for me! =) Wal*BOX is teh evil.. *sssssss* (joking!)
Originally Posted By mrichmondj Yeah, Wal-Mart is evil and Target is a retail savior --- get real! Did you know that average wages at Target are less than the average wage for an hourly worker at Wal-Mart? Did you know that Target doesn't offer health care plans to all employees, while Wal-Mart offers plans to full and part-time employees? Did you know that as part of employee training Target broadcasts a 30-minute video on why employees should never unionize? Target is dressed up in a pretty PR campaign that makes people feel good, but it is no different than Wal-Mart in its business model. They are the exact same entity. I shop at Wal-Mart and Target all the time. They have good prices relative to the local stores around me that think they can charge a 20% premium on the exact same items I can buy at Wal-Mart. I'll never understand how the exact same product can cost me 20% more at the local grocery store when I get no added benefit, and the unionized cashier there is actually paid less than the Wal-Mart counterpart. But anyone who thinks there is a difference between Target and Wal-Mart, needs to examine the facts. Aside from the Madison Avenue polish, they are essentially the same thing.
Originally Posted By mawnck Funny all these Christians dissing people for getting offended at "Merry Christmas." Isn't the whole point that all these Christians got equally (and just as idiotically) offended at "Happy Holidays?" All y'all get a life!
Originally Posted By TomSawyer >>but it is no different than Wal-Mart in its business model<< It is a lot different. Just ask the manufacturers that sell to both companies.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj Target doesn't need to have the same relationship with manufacturers when Wal-Mart is doing the job for them. Once Wal-Mart demands a manufacturer to perform to certain efficiency and cost standards for their product, the dirty work is essentially done for the entire retail industry. Manufacturers can't afford to make products differently or market differently to different retailers -- Target just rides Wal-Mart's coattails on this one.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer >>Once Wal-Mart demands a manufacturer to perform to certain efficiency and cost standards for their product, the dirty work is essentially done for the entire retail industry. << Which is why it is more and more difficult to find products manufactured in the US on any retailer's shelves.
Originally Posted By EdisYoda Another difference between the Store that shall not be named and Target is that Target, unlike the other, doesn't need a store on every corner. They also know when to take "No" for an answer when it comes to building their stores. If a town doesn't want a Target, then Target just goes elsewhere instead of bullying (or suing) the town to get it's way.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj How many Targets have been opposed by local communities? Not too many. There are instances in the United States where Target has gone in and built superstores in the exact same communities where Wal-Mart was denied entry. Target is perceived as being more "upscale." What a joke. Target has also been granted an application to operate an industrial bank, but Wal-Mart's application will likely be disapproved after much hand-wringing. I don't work for Wal-Mart or Target. I have talked with corporate recruiters for both firms, and would consider a position if one is available when I stop working for Uncle Sam someday. I think I would prefer living in Bentonville over Minneapolis. I just think it's interesting how perception can be so different for two companies that operate the exact same business. The biggest difference that I see in the Wal-Mart vs. Target business model is that Target really emphasizes their own private label brands over national brands, and they have done that quite successfully. There's a lot more money to be made in selling private label brands than re-selling a national brand. I shop at both stores. I save a lot of money there compared to the grocery store or non-discount stores that are just down the street.
Originally Posted By smeeeko I haven't seen any Target stores in small areas, nor have a seen a Target that opens a location then opens another location that is even bigger circumventing local land & tax codes.. I haven't heard of it but maybe that's because I'm not into all that. What I do know is that Wal*BOX and other companies like it go into places that don't need a Wal*Box store and close the town from having small business or they insist they are needed in places like Amish Country where folks don't need tv sets and crap like that. Granted WalMart is NOT the only union buster company in the world and I'm not personally keen on Unions myself unless they are needed which honestly WalMart does if the wage & labor practices that are so much griped over on these boards and elsewhere are to be believed. My personal issue with Wal*Box or any other big chain store is cleanliness and product inventory. Customer Service etc. I don't expect places like that to treat me like the CMs in WDW do, but if you keep your store clean, keep inventory of products that I purchase, are friendly and at least try to help (I don't care if I price check my own thing.. that's cool actually.. Target could use more of those) but every Walmart that I've been \ shopped in has been narrow aisled, dingy and claustraphobic. The WalMart near my mom in Sarasota is nice but I don't live in Florida I live in SoCal. The Targets around our area are clean for the most part and usually have what we want. That's all I ask. That and keep the candy aisle stocked (VBG) If you have folks that work there that like their job and are helpful that's even better. I don't think thats on Walmart alone, trust me.
Originally Posted By smeeeko getting back on topic though I do find it offensive if a coroporation wants to sponser religion. If I was shopping at an ethnic market or something I wouldn't have an issue as it would be specializing to a clientelle. If you shop or dine at a Halal or Kosher food establishment and someone wished you a Happy Holiday I wouldn't be the least offended. I do find it offensive if I'm in a store and someone assumes I am celebrating Christmas.. if an employee of said store doesn't celebrate Christmas and is forced as part of employment to say Merry Christmas every time he/she greets someone?? I celebrte Christmas but the world is bigger than me and no offense but it's bigger than a lot of other folks and institutions corporate and governmental too. My mom always says, never "assume".. and she was right. I'd rather just wish you a Happy Holiday and leave it at that unless I know you personally.
Originally Posted By fkurucz I seem to recall that the original brouhaha was that last year WalMarts website had pages dedicated to Hannuka and Kwanzaa, but none for Christmas (using the websites search engine for Christmas took you to the "Holidays" page.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Day of the Dead--Dia de los Muertos--is actually TWO days: Nov. 1 & 2.<< I recall from my years in Mexico City that it was Nov 2 (All Souls Day). As CM mentioned earlier, many feast days start at sundown the day before, so people would start perparing (washing tombstones, preparing meals, etc.) on Nov 1st.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I noticed last night that Kmart's tagline for the season is "Where Christmas Comes Together."
Originally Posted By TomSawyer "Don we now our gay apparel" - oops! Uh-oh, conservative Christian groups aren't happy with Walmart now. <a href="http://www.ajc.com/services/content/business/stories/2006/11/10/1111bizwalmart.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=6" target="_blank">http://www.ajc.com/services/co ntent/business/stories/2006/11/10/1111bizwalmart.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=6</a> of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. because the company is offering to pay a commission to a small nonprofit gay organization for sending buyers its way. Each purchase made by clicking through the Washington D.C. Center for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender People's Web site to Wal-Mart's retail site generates a payment to the group worth 5 percent of the sale. Donald Wildmon, chairman of the Mississippi-based American Family Association, said Friday that his group has sent e-mails to 3 million supporters urging a boycott because the deal suggests Wal-Mart executives believe "the homosexual agenda is worthy of their support." Operation Rescue, a Christian conservative group based in Kansas, also is calling for a Thanksgiving boycott of the retailer.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Whew! I was getting worried that there would be no big boycott announced. That's becoming as much a holiday tradition as watching Rudolph on CBS.
