A Hand-mixer, Marketing and Walmart

My neighborhood Walmart was recently converted to fit the new brand; wider aisles, lowers shelves and so on.

I don’t like it.

Why?

My store no longer carries most of the things I normally purchased there.

Less product in the store, less variety among brands was the result of my neighborhood remodel.

How marketing and demographics changed my shopping habits

My guess is after a review of inventory and sales reports and a quick peek at the demographics of my suburban oasis, the purchasing manager did away with hand-held mixers, a lot of Walmart brand products and the family size Mrs. Smith peach cobbler. Even my beloved Popsicle® Big Sticks can’t be found. Not to mention the women’s clothing section is now filled with shapeless, flower-laden, garments all made of that stretchy material. Ick.

I can no longer find what I need at my neighborhood Walmart.

Spending more time in Target

That morning I went looking for a simple hand mixer at Walmart and all I could find were the high-end KitchedAid bowl mixers, I knew my Walmart days were coming to an end. I just wanted a simple hand-held mixer.

Fortunately, I went to Target and found exactly what I was looking for so I’ll be spending more time and money there. And this has nothing to do with the recent fuss about Target’s recent campaign donation either.

Walmart sent me to their competitor when they remodeled my store.

The power of marketing research and demographics!

Image by Ariel da Silva Parreira: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/arinas74