Vasquez apparently saw a tremendous amount of shopping online for holiday goodies, which is surprising since research I've performed before shows most customers shop for decoration items in person instead of on the web. Regardless, Vasquez's words sounded upbeat and I agree with him that www.walmart.com will probably see a pretty decent holiday shopping season this year. Heck, it already started the madness last week.

But then, Vasquez is predicting a rise of 40% to 60% this year for Walmart.com sales compared to last year. That level sounds too much like projective cheerleading than reality since customers will most likely tighten those spending belts more than in a long time -- starting now. If Vasquez is correct, a rise of that level would indeed be a coup if those numbers became actualized after December.
Worry has gripped the market in relation to retail holiday sales this year with rocky housing markets, energy price increases and a tightening of lending standards. Those features of the U.S. economy at this moment may sway more shoppers to Walmart.com, even if customers order online and pickup their purchases at a local Wal-Mart location. But 40% to 60% gains? I have to wonder if more customers will simply shift to the web instead of fight lines at stores -- or if that projected growth rate would be mostly organic growth.

The National Retail Federation said that growth in this year's holiday shopping season may rise at their slowest pace in five years. Wal-Mart must agree here since it launched early holiday sales almost a month in advance this year. Perhaps that is the 40% to 60% increase Vasquez is counting on.