Professor Elam

Accounting & Investing Info for San Antonio A & M

recent posts

about

Just Don’t Call It a Uniform!

Wmt_logo WMT has a new look, er uniform, no wait!  Seeking to change its perceived image, WMT is issuing new blue shirts (2) and an allowance (well 15 bucks) toward buying khaki pants.  The smock look is out.  Apparently WMT has decided that going up market is a matter of perception, and the customers don’t link up market with smocks.  One prof notes that what would be common sense or obvious to anyone else, becomes ‘Orwellian’ in WMT speak. (Do you know who George Orwell was, maybe you should look that up in Wikipedia….)

At any rate, the retail wars continue.  As we have discussed here and in class, TGT and Old Navy have taken the casual clothing market, leaving Sears and WMT behind.  Will this make a difference?

And by the way, with only two new polo shirts, if the employee works five days a week, won’t those look pretty faded and washed out if they are washed twice a week after a couple of months, assuming they get washed of course…..Frankly that sounds a little on the cheap side to me to expect a brand new look among their thousands of employees. 

Posted in

3 responses to “Just Don’t Call It a Uniform!”

  1. Kimi Avatar
    Kimi

    You know I think that improving the image will help sales and earnings overall in Walmart. The new image they are attempting to achieve seems strangely familiar, i.e. Target’s look of a red shirt with tan pants/skirts. In my opinion a smock just looks tacky and I have had to wear them in the past in my previous retail jobs. I think being able to have more freedom in what you wear to work improves moral and happy workers equal happy customers. The new look in the actual stores (laminate flooring, etc.) have made a difference already. My sister told me I just had to drive out to the improved Wal-Mart in McKinney, even thought it is 30-40 minutes from my house,becuase it was the best Wal-Mart she has ever been to. I am a fan of Target myself and I am not impressed with that fact that Wal-Mart is going to decrease employment from 80% to 60%. What does that mean for customer service? I love Target so much because you never ever have to wait in line! We’ll see how all these changes at Wal-Mart affect customer service!

    Like

    Reply
  2. Dennis Elam Avatar
    Dennis Elam

    Good point I have never waited at a TGT and can always find someone to help, rarely the case at WMT. I think WMT is so ensconced in WE ARE CHEAP that they will not be able to shed that image that they worked so hard to earn. TGT recruited at SWT, Wal Mart certainly did not, what does that say? Does anyone think of WMT as a career?
    Good point about copying TGT uniforms. I saw an interesting piece on tv about the guy that designs uniforms for companies.
    He was comparing FED EX and UPS, the pretty colors versus the plain brown. Can anyone remember when WMT was plain brown? Not so long ago.

    Like

    Reply
  3. Jeff Burkholder Avatar
    Jeff Burkholder

    I think that Wal-Mart should just stay just as it is and not pretend to be something it isn’t. Target is well known for being, well a more up-scale Wal-Mart and for Wal-Mart to try to move in that direction is a lost cause. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with improving certain aspects of their business, but as you said Dr. Elam we have had the “low cost leader” hammered into our heads since Wal-Mart became a big player. I like the fact that I have two options in Wal-Mart and Target and I can expect each store to carry different items. When I need bathroom, office, or house supplies I prefer to go to Wal-Mart. For food, furniture, sheets, socks, ect. I go to target because I like their products better, and they are usually of higher quality. One last thing, I go to the Target in Lewisville and it is always packed and I always have to wait in line.. but so is Wal-Mart. Wal-mart should have GREEN uniforms so they can show their commitment to preserving the earth.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment