It will be a Merry Christmas at Walmart again...

http://money.cnn.com/2006/11/09/news/companies/walmart_christmas/index.htm?postversion=2006110909

Quote:

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Wal-Mart: We're not afraid to say Merry Christmas

No. 1 retailer has decided to abandon its generic 'Happy Holidays' greeting in favor of 'Merry Christmas.'
November 9 2006: 9:46 AM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Wal-Mart has told its employees that it's OK to once again greet shoppers by saying "Merry Christmas" this holiday season instead of the generic "Happy Holidays."

CNN confirmed that Wal-Mart will announce Thursday that it plans to use the phrase "Merry Christmas" in products and around its stores this holiday season.

The announcement comes a year after religious groups such as The American Family Association and The Catholic League boycotted retailers including Wal-Mart last holiday season for excluding the word "Christmas" from products sold in stores.

"We, quite frankly, have learned a lesson from last year," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Linda Blakley told USA Today in a separate report. "We're not afraid to use the term 'Merry Christmas.' We'll use it early, and we'll use it often."

Besides resurrecting its Christmas pitch, the retailer is also determined to be the leader in this year's holiday price wars.

The November-December holiday shopping period is a critical time for merchants since it can account for as much as 50 percent of their profits and sales.

To that end, Wal-Mart was the first out of the gate to chop prices on toys and electronics much ahead of its competitors like Target (Charts), Toys 'R Us, Costco (Charts) and others.

To support its Christmas deals, the report said Wal-Mart will launch TV ads next week that trumpet "Christmas." It's changing the name of its seasonal decorations department to "The Christmas Shop" from "The Holiday Shop."

Moreover, Wal-Mart stores will play Christmas carols throughout the holiday period and about 60 percent more merchandise will be labeled as "Christmas" rather than "holiday" items, the paper said.

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Personally I am glad to see this.
I am all for embracing diversity.
However, people need to remember that embracing diverse views does not mean shunning or ignoring the mainstream view either.

Walmart just won me back over as a customer this Christmas.

I really don't know why people are offended by "Merry Christmas."

I mean, it's not like I'm telling them they HAVE to celebrate Christmas, I'm merely being friendly.

And, for the most part people don't care. A stupid few who have to find something to gripe about temporarily messed this little facet of life up.

I hear Macy's is following suit, and using the "Christmas" term again, as well.
:)

Good news as far as I am concerned.

I like the fact that they are saying 'Merry Christmas' again, however, I don't like the fact that the only reason they are doing it is pressure from some of these religious groups. In my opinion, doing it for that reason is not any better than when everyone stopped saying 'Merry Christmas,' due to pressure from various other groups.

I am not offended when someone says Happy Festivus or Happy Hanukah to me.

If people are friendly and cordial they could say '@#%% you!' and I would smile and move on.

I think it's sad that they are so spineless that they let their pocketbook determine whether or not they should be friendly and recognize national/int'l events, whether they are religious in nature or not.

Ya' know because of this, there will be morons with no life that will complain to their local congressman and protest Wal-Mart. Its the same yentas that felt pirates chasing ladies in Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride was in bad taste. Some people have no lives & their only purpose in life is to bit_h & complain. %$$^# losers.....ok I'm better now. Go vikes

Well Wal-mart is a buisiness so if it makes them more money then why not. I don't really give a shit why they do it.

Good for them at least they did something right once. I still say boycott Wal-Mart anyway.

I'm sorry, but I could care less what they say when I walk in the door. I would actually prefer that nobody says anything and just leaves me alone.