Editing Walmart (section)

====Branding and store design changes====
In 2006, Wal-Mart announced that it would remodel its U.S. stores to help it appeal to a wider variety of demographics, including more affluent shoppers. As part of the initiative, the company launched a new store in Plano, Texas, that included high-end electronics, jewelry, expensive wines and a sushi bar.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna14714027|title=Wal-Mart to drop one-size-fits-all approach|date=September 7, 2006|publisher=MSNBC|access-date=July 24, 2018|archive-date=August 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805192017/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14714027/ns/business-us_business/t/wal-mart-drop-one-size-fits-all-approach/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 12, 2007, Wal-Mart introduced new advertising with the [[slogan]], "''Save money. Live better.''", replacing the previous slogan "''Always Low Prices, Always''", which it had used since 1988. [[Global Insight]], which conducted the research that supported the ads, found that Wal-Mart's [[price level]] reduction resulted in savings for consumers of $287&nbsp;billion in 2006, which equated to $957 per person or $2,500 per household (up 7.3 percent from the 2004 savings estimate of $2,329).<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-walmart-advertising-idUSWEN091820070912 |title = Wal-Mart rolling out new company slogan |work = Reuters |date = September 12, 2007 |access-date = December 7, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130210111723/http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/09/12/us-walmart-advertising-idUSWEN091820070912 |url-status=live |archive-date = February 10, 2013 }}</ref>

On June 30, 2008, Wal-Mart removed the hyphen from its logo and replaced the star with a ''Spark'' symbol.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gambrell |first=Jon |date=2008-06-30 |title=Hyphen out in Wal-Mart logo |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/hyphen-out-in-wal-mart-logo/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The store branding became "Walmart", with the corporate name remaining with the hyphen as "Wal-Mart". The new logo received mixed reviews from design critics who questioned whether the new logo was as bold as those of competitors, such as the [[Target Corporation|Target]] bullseye, or as instantly recognizable as the previous company's logo, which was used for 18 years.<ref>{{cite web |last = Armin |title = Less Hyphen, More Burst for Walmart |url = http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/less_hyphen_more_burst_for_wal.php |work = Brand New |publisher = UnderConsideration LLC |access-date = August 9, 2010 |date = June 30, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100211143200/http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/less_hyphen_more_burst_for_wal.php |archive-date = February 11, 2010}}</ref> The new logo<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wal-Mart – Logo in EPS, PNG & JPG Formats|url=https://logoose.com/logo/Wal-Mart/36|access-date=January 25, 2022|website=logoose.com|archive-date=January 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125164246/https://logoose.com/logo/Wal-Mart/36|url-status=dead}}</ref> made its debut on the company's website on July 1, 2008, and its U.S. locations updated store logos in the fall of 2008.<ref name="new_logo">{{cite news |url = http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/jul2008/id2008072_324653.htm |title = Wal-Mart Gets a Facelift |last = Jana |first = Reena |date = July 2, 2008 |work = Bloomberg BusinessWeek |access-date = July 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080706161254/http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/jul2008/id2008072_324653.htm |archive-date = July 6, 2008 }}</ref> Walmart Canada started to adopt the logo for its stores in early 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.domain-b.com/industry/Retail/20090214_walmart.html |title = Walmart Canada changes logo, slashes prices |date = February 14, 2009 |access-date = December 7, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121102005404/http://domain-b.com/industry/Retail/20090214_walmart.html |archive-date = November 2, 2012}}</ref>