Wal-Mart Partners With Gay and Lesbian Group

• September 1, 2006

In an unprecedented push, Wal-Mart Stores has hired a gay-marketing shop, joined the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and begun discussions with activist groups about extending domestic-partnership benefits to its employees.
The initiative comes as Wal-Mart aims to broaden its appeal and woo both upscale and urban markets, but this is not the first time Wal-Mart has attempted to appease critics in the gay and lesbian community.
Wal-Mart is going about this in a very pragmatic way,” said Justin Nelson, president of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, an independent organization with 24,000 members. “They have been viewed with some degree of skepticism by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community, and it’s important for them in terms of gaining market share to change that.”
A Wal-Mart spokeswoman declined to comment on the trio of moves and would only confirm the company’s partnership with the NGLCC.

Lots of questions could be asked concerning this decision by Wal-Mart. Is this just good marketing because the gay community has unique demographics that need special considerations? Does Wal-Mart market differently for other racial and religious groups? Has Wal-Mart teamed with any other commercial organizations?

The steps being taken by Wal-Mart are the strongest signal yet that the company may be taking a permanent stand on the side of gay rights, despite the inevitable lambasting from right-wing conservative groups, such as the Family Research Council and the American Family Association, said Nu Wexler of Wal-Mart Watch, the Washington-based coalition backed by the Sierra Club and the Service Employees.
“This partnership shows Wal-Mart is changing,” Mr. Wexler said. “It’s worth noting they declined to publicize this partnership and left it up to the chamber. Wal-Mart is very eager to publicize partnerships. It’s possible they fear a backlash from their conservative consumer base.”

Read the whole thing.
Rob adds: My support of Wal-Mart is based on that company’s embrace of pure free market capitalism. I love that Wal-Mart refuses to have anything to do with unions and I also love that the company is an absolute American success story employing millions around the globe while also bringing low prices to citizens in America and abroad.
If marketing to gays helps Wal-Mart make more money – and thus continue to bring us the aforementioned jobs and low prices – then so be it. I don’t really care.

http://Array robert108

aNON: The really funny part about what you wrote is that, if it’s true, then “the rich” are really gay couples, and not evil white christian conservative corporate types. What a mindf*ck for the lefties! What a dilemma for the PC crowd!
student student

Hmmm Walmart, a mixed blessing. I’ve been told by my econ professor this summmer that for every job walmart creates, 7 jobs are lost as a result of walmart’s creating that job. However, in my business class, job loss is a good thing because people are then allocated where their skills are more needed, expanding other markets.

I think this is a good thing for Walmart to expand its consumer base. Walmart in my area has actually conformed to the standards the monks set out for it- that it be built like the abbey itself and provide some of its profits to the abbey. Walmart has built such a nice superwalmart, and you can’t even see it from the road- all the trees surrounding it are many and large. I like to call it the “Anti-Walmart”. I never even knew it was back there until someone told me, and I had to drive on a long winding road with sidewalks and trees (just as if I were going into a subdivision). If this is just the beginning of a new image, I am very impressed. If anyone is interested in seeing this new walmart, I would be willing to take a picture of it for you. The inside of the walmart is also nicer.
robert108

aNON: Even if your speculation is true, the average “gay couple” is only part of 3%-5% of the total population, so they would have to spend about 100 times as much.
aNONOMISLY

Even if your speculation is true, the average “gay couple” is only part of 3%-5% of the total population, so they would have to spend about 100 times as much.

all good economist and corporations think in the margins..
student student

Care to ask this “econ professor” how he came about such a number?

I’ll try to find the statistic for you, but apparently it’s one where walmart builds a place, which displaces local jobs. For example, a mom and pop store with 7 people goes out of business because a walmart is built nearby…so he’s saying for every job that walmart creates, 7 local jobs (most likely mom and pop joints) are lost. I do hope you read the rest of my long discussion…As I said, it’s rather mixed.
aNONOMISLY

For the North Dakota Farmer in the neighborhood, ..

DINK =Dual Incomes No Kids
aNONOMISLY

The question is how will this play culturally in the Walmart’s Backyard in the south?

It’s just a matter of time before some TV evangelist calls for a boycott.

aren’t evanngelist tolerant folks?

..if your prediction hold true, I’m sure Wal-Mart did some pretty good market and cost/benefits/SWOT analyses (they’re very good at that) and determined that the Gay, Lesbians, and Metrosexual market is where the money is really at..
aNONOMISLY

another reason could be to try and attract talented liberal, with MBAS from the elite liberal schools

..The FBI has been doing such a thing at UC Berkeley lately
aNONOMISLY

Even all together, a very tiny group, percentagewise. They are way over represented in the MSM.

I’M willing to place a bet that your typical Gay DINK couple spends more money (both disposable and not) and has a higher income than that of several fundamental evangelist famalies combined..
http://sayanythingblog.com/ likwidshoe

student student said, I’ve been told by my econ professor this summmer that for every job walmart creates, 7 jobs are lost as a result of walmart’s creating that job.

Care to ask this “econ professor” how he came about such a number?
student student

I’m pretty sure that gay people already shop at walmart. I know a few gay/bisexual college students myself…(as to my preference, it’s none of anyone’s business, but I’m happy being straight.)
aNONOMISLY

THERE is NOTHING wrong with Wal-Mart selling to the Gay & Lesbian crowd (they have their own taste and so a unique and specifically tailored marketing strategy is the best, if not most effective way to go about it)

What would be wrong in my book is if the following people start attacking Wal-Mart for it, ..

The steps being taken by Wal-Mart are the strongest signal yet that the company may be taking a permanent stand on the side of gay rights, despite the inevitable lambasting from right-wing conservative groups, such as the Family Research Council and the American Family Association, said Nu Wexler of Wal-Mart Watch, the Washington-based coalition backed by the Sierra Club and the Service Employees.

But I’m sure that, true to the scripture, they’re very tolerant of other. They probably won’t be bothered much by Wal-Mart’s decision..
robert108

aNON: Even all together, a very tiny group, percentagewise. They are way over represented in the MSM.
student student

http://www.uic.edu/cuppa/uicued/npublications/recent/nwal-martreport.pdf#search=%22jobs%20lost%20per%20walmart%20job%20gained%22Here’s an interesting walmart case I just found. Very detailed…Of course, everything I’ve seen so far is theory.
aNONOMISLY

The Gay & Lesbian market is a very covetted

Gay & Lesbian market: High income no kids, Lost of disposable income, strong consumers, concentrated, DINKS i.e. a marketer’s paradise.
http://www.freerepublicans.com/ FreeRepublicans.com

The question is how will this play culturally in the Walmart’s Backyard in the south?

It’s just a matter of time before some TV evangelist calls for a boycott.
robert108

Cash flow will tell the tale. It’s all about cost/benefit. IMO, the numbers aren’t there for any long term marketing push. This is probably a PR move.
aNONOMISLY

aNON: Your misperception, mischaracterization and stereotyping of Christians is very funny.

are you suggesting the average evangelical fundamentalist have a higher income than your average gay?
aNONOMISLY

… the Gay, Lesbians, and Metrosexual market is where the big money to be made is really at..
aNONOMISLY

It’s all about cost/benefit

My bet is that they will do what Toyota adn all major auto corporation do.

i.e. different targeted brands, e.g. sell both Corollas and Lexus
aNONOMISLY

You seem to stereotype all Christians as southern trailer trash, and that is very far from the truth. Just another clueless leftie Yankee.

Can you quote me where you believe I’ve done that please
aNONOMISLY

aNON: The really funny part about what you wrote is that, if it’s true, then “the rich” are really gay couples, and not evil white christian conservative corporate types. What a mindf*ck for the lefties! What a dilemma for the PC crowd

I wouldn’t say rich, more like ‘mid to upper middle class,’ the concentration of highly educated gay proffessionals is probably much higher than that of highly educated fundamental evangelist proffessionals (i.e. their pay grade is generally much higher than that of your typical fundamental evangelist)
http://sayanythingblog.com/ likwidshoe

Whoosh – stick to the topic.
robert108

aNON: Your misperception, mischaracterization and stereotyping of Christians is very funny.
robert108

aNON: A thousand pardons. I should have said: “Your stereotyping of fundamentalist evangelical christians is funny.” You have denigrated all Christians in other threads, but not in this one. You’re still wrong, though.
Dave

My support of Wal-Mart is based on that company’s embrace of pure free market capitalism. I love that Wal-Mart refuses to have anything to do with unions and I also love that the company is an absolute American success story employing millions around the globe while also bringing low prices to citizens in America and abroad.

If marketing to gays helps Wal-Mart make more money – and thus continue to bring us the aforementioned jobs and low prices – then so be it. I don’t really care.

But it looks so gross when they kiss!
robert108

aNON: You made generalized statements about Christians, to which I was referring. In answer to your question, which has nothing to do with my statement about your stereotyping Christians, no, but there are many many times more of them, so that the size of the total market is many many times larger. Cash flow, dude. In business, average isn’t really the concern; it’s the total worth of the market. You seem to stereotype all Christians as southern trailer trash, and that is very far from the truth. Just another clueless leftie Yankee.
aNONOMISLY

But it looks so gross when they kiss!

NO shit it does. Makes me want to contemplate my position..
aNONOMISLY

..but its too early for me tell..
aNONOMISLY

cool
aNONOMISLY

Even all together, a very tiny group, percentagewise. They are way over represented in the MSM.

I’M willing to place a bet that your typical Gay DINK couple spends more money (both disposable and not) and has a higher income than that of several typical fundamental evangelist famalies combined..
Whoosh

Rob,

17 months ago you made this post about some great news:

Iraqi Forces To Be In Control In 18 Months

Would you care to update us on the situation, in relation to the recent additional great news about 18 more months before Iraq can manage its own security?
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

Whoosh, a visual representation of progress in Iraq.

We may not hit that 18 month mark, but we’re getting dang close.

SayAnythingBlog.com

Wal-Mart Partners With Gay and Lesbian Group

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