Wal-Mart resets home as destination department

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 6/12/2006 1:50:00 PM

Rogers, Ark. — Wal-Mart is undertaking an ambitious store remodeling program in 1,800 stores that includes a 20,000-square-foot. "total home" section. The multi-category department – which includes domestics – has been moved forward from the back of the store and boasts a front-aisle presence.

Before	After

About 1,300 remodels are to be finished by year end, with the priority on stores in the Northeast.

"We're really excited in the home lines areas with these initiatives — and what we're going to be doing is creating a destination for home,"said Paul Beahm, senior vp home, hardlines.

At the same time, Wal-Mart is preparing to introduce more "mass luxury" in soft home, while further enhancing opening price point goods. Later this summer it will introduce the Springmaid Hotel Bedding Collection, even as its 180-count Mainstays entry inches up to a 200-count product.

At a $2.96 opening price point for the Mainstays sheet — opening at $8.67 for a set — the "quality at this value is unmatched anywhere in the U.S. market," Beahm asserted. "Working through our global procurement organization, not only did we deliver extra value and quality for our customer, but we improved margins as well."