At times like these, I begin to think the stock market has a mind of its own. Sometimes its does, particularly when there is divine intervention from underlying sources. But despite all shenanigans from Executive Order 12631- the Plunge Protection Team, the misleading retail sales numbers, the misleading inflation data, the misleading jobs data, etc. The bottom-line is that corporate profits and a rising stock market depend on people like you and I.
As I was flipping through the channels last night, I caught a very gutsy comment by Glen Beck. While I don't agree with everything Beck says, he did say something that really hit home with me.
Without Christians, there would be no Christmas. Without Christians retail sales would tank. Christians are the one's that drive retail sales during the months of November and December. Like it or not, Christmas literally means “the Mass of Christ".
If 70% of GDP is the consumer, and since an estimated 82% of the U.S. population is Christian, I would think retailers would do everything in their power to appeal to this group during the biggest shopping time of the year. In other words, they need to do some major sucking up. Remember, corporate profits are all about people.
If the stock market is driven by corporate profits, and 82% of the consumers driving those profits during Christmas are Christians, an intelligent marketing decision would be to appeal to the majority. If the majorities are driving sales, only an idiot would ignore what the majority wants.
When businesses advertise do they try to market to the masses, (the largest buying group) or do they try to market to smallest segment of the population? Heck, its only common sense.
Wal-Mart is finally starting to get it, but in reality, they don't get it enough. After last years sad display of political correctness, the company told its employees "that it's OK to once again greet shoppers by saying "Merry Christmas" this holiday season". Last year they instructed their employees to say "Happy Holidays."
Where Wal-Mart screwed up was with the phrase "that it's OK". See they still don't get it! Who in the world is making the marketing decisions at Wal-Mart? By saying "that it's OK" tells people that they were forced into saying Merry Christmas, and by saying "that it's OK" reveals that have doubts of whether they should have done it or not.
If you have been wondering why Wal-Mart's sales are down, some can be attributed to the economy, but they might have also lost some loyal customers. Despite all that you hear on TV, Christians are not stupid. They know a lack of sincerity when they see it.
Last year, the American Family Association and The Catholic League boycotted Wal-Mart excluding the word "Christmas" from products sold in stores. How stupid is this?
Here's what I would do if I were in charge of marketing at Wal-Mart. Not only do I believe it would work, I know it would.
1) I would issue a public apology to the American Family Association, The Catholic League, and all Christians nationwide.
2) I would let them know how important the Christian faith is to the moral fabric of our nation.
3) I would put a large picture of Santa Claus on the front of every Wal-Mart store.
4) I would hire a Santa for every store, and sell pictures to kids and their parents.
5) I would put a Nativity Scene at every Wal-Mart location.
6) Between 5-7 pm every weekday (Until Christmas Eve), I would coordinate an effort with the local churches to have choir members join as Christmas Carolers outside or inside every store. On the weekends, I would have them during peak shopping hours. In return for their efforts, Wal-Mart should donate food or supplies to the churches charity efforts.
Beyond any doubt, this would gain back customers, create loyalty, and in turn drive profits.
Wal-Mart also has a huge PR problem as it relates to its employees, importing foreign made products, as well as destroying small businesses in communities that they enter. The 6 ideas that I laid out above would go a long way towards repairing Wal-Mart’s image.
I will be sending this message to Wal-Mart, and I'll let you know if I get a response. Let’s see if the can breakout from the shackles of political correctness.
