When you watch cable news the narrative on every channel is a deep division between Americans. Yet, between the talking head-filled segments, the nation’s biggest advertisers run their side of the story. Their side of the story is optimistic with a touch of realism.
Walmart will never be all we need to get by. But the world’s largest retailer does carry hand-sanitizers and other necessary products.
Because…America
Many of the low priced products that one finds on a Walmart shelf are made in China. Others are made right here in the USA.
Flags are waving all over this land today. I don’t think it’s what Betsy Ross or anyone else had in mind.
What Walmart’s executive team has in mind is much clearer. In their minds, there is “inside the store” and “outside the store”. Inside the store, on a good day Americans are willing to put their grievances aside.
Outside the store, all bets are off.
GIANT Too Is “Making A Difference”
Walmart is just one of many brands that present a glossy, overly-romanticized version of American life.
Here’s GIANT’s version of the brand as a community center.
Is there anything wrong with brands presenting an idealized best version of themselves, their communities, or their shoppers?
Nothing that a wicked case of cognitive dissonance can’t remedy.
In Related News, Food Prices A Major Concern for Many Americans
According to Supermarket News, in September, 20% of Americans said they’re spending less on food (13% a lot less, 7% a little less) versus 14% in the May poll (7% a lot less, 7% a little less).
There is also declining U.S consumer sentiment about whether stores and the government are doing a good job dealing the with COVID-19 crisis. In September, only 50% of U.S. survey respondents thought stores were doing a good job, down from 52% in July and 60% in May.
With COVID-19 cases on the rise and the economy swirling in a back eddy, Walmart will continue to win. Walmart was cited by 34% of U.S. consumers as offering the best value for the money, followed by Aldi (12%) and Kroger (9%).
Will Americans also win? Will the people who work at Walmart and shop at Walmart win? It’s easy to say so in a commericial. It’s much harder (and a much higher bar) to turn these promises into operational realities.
