Welcome to the 85th installment of The Wal-Mart Weekly, a column dedicated to bringing you insight, wit, facts, results, opinions, and just a bit of everything else when it comes to a very hot topic these days: Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has seen its share of ups and down in recent years. It has tried to change its strategy, brought more stores into its fold, had a hand at recruiting more customers from higher-margin spending segments and has eventually returned to its strength: supplying discounts on everything it sells to as many consumers as possible.

Where is Wal-Mart headed? Right now, in a straight line. I firmly believe that the world's largest retailer is in the best possible position to ride out the current global economic crisis better than any other company in any industry. Why? People won't stop eating and clothing themselves and their kids, while buying birthday cards and placemats. And, they want it as cheap as possible. Enter Wal-Mart.

Welcome to the 80th installment of The Wal-Mart Weekly, a column dedicated to bringing you insight, wit, facts, results, opinions, and just a bit of everything else when it comes to a very hot topic these days: Wal-Mart.

This week, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is under fire for alleged major human rights violations in some of its Bangladesh factories. Although global manufacturers have often come under fire for slave labor conditions in PacRim-area factories, could this really apply to a retailer? After all, a retailer is a distributor, not a manufacturer.

In most cases, this is true -- but not when it comes to Wal-Mart. According to a SweatFree Communities report, Wal-Mart workers in Bangladesh were made to work 19-hour days while being paid $20/month. Sounds like a raw deal, so let's take a look.

Welcome to the 78th installment of The Wal-Mart Weekly, a column dedicated to bringing you insight, wit, facts, results, opinions, and just a bit of everything else when it comes to a very hot topic these days: Wal-Mart.

This week, let's take a look at a major initiative by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) to cut down on the amount of plastic shopping bags it provides. Wal-Mart has made itself part of the "green" movement in recent years, from being the leader in sales of CFL-type lighting to natural-gas powered fleet vehicles to the sale of items made from recycled materials.

But still, it doles out tens of millions (that's a conservative estimate) of plastic bags every single month, most of which probably end up in landfills. In my area, plastic bags are not accepted as recycled even though there is the recycling mark on them. In some counties, only specific kinds of plastic are accepted for recycling. Thus, just making something recyclable does not mean it will be or can be. How should Wal-Mart assist in this effort? Read on.

Welcome to the 76th installment of The Wal-Mart Weekly, a column dedicated to bringing you insight, wit, facts, results, opinions, and just a bit of everything else when it comes to a very hot topic these days: Wal-Mart.

This week, I'll be taking a look at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s (NYSE: WMT) apparent unwillingness to lower gasoline prices along with the thousands of other price rollbacks on its store shelves. In fact, a possible price hike was on tap for the retailer's Murphy USA gas stations just last week in Texas as thousands of residents were urged to evacuate their homes as Hurricane Ike roared towards the U.S. shoreline in the Gulf of Mexico.

As oil barrel prices dropped last week and hurricane situation became worse and worse for South Texas, Wal-Mart gas stations saw a $0.12 per gallon price increase in less than 12 hours. On the day the official call was made for South Texas residents to flee their homes, gas was raised another $0.10 per gallon. While Murphy USA is the actual gas provider (not Wal-Mart itself), how could such a drastic increase in such a precarious position come to pass? The evacuating folks sure were not given a break on this one. In fact, the word "gouging" comes to mind. Was it really that severe?

Welcome to the 72nd installment of The Wal-Mart Weekly, a column dedicated to bringing you insight, wit, facts, results, opinions, and just a bit of everything else when it comes to a very hot topic these days: Wal-Mart.

This week, I'll be delving into Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT)'s decision earlier this year to jettison many hundreds of magazines from its shelves in order to thin out its reading offerings inside its stores. But, more importantly, what's going on regarding magazines in its Asda division in the UK? Is Wal-Mart trying to extend its reach just a bit too far? It tried similar tactics back in January -- so why again in August?

Wal-Mart's influence has grown immensely powerful

Ever since the 1990s, Wal-Mart has been a powerful force in American retailing as the Supercenter concept starting taking root in metro areas throughout the U.S. As the retailer became the dominant discounter, it brushed aside the competition just dirt under a rug.

Of course, along with powerful growth comes powerful opposition. I like to draw comparisons to Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), when it comes to Wal-Mart. Microsoft has its operating system that has standardized a complete personal computer industry under one umbrella and became the de-facto standard that, more than anything, revolutionized the computer industry. For Wal-Mart, its relentless pursuit of finding lower prices and passing those savings on to the consumer made it become the largest retailer in the world.

With Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) already having inked a solid relationship last year, it should be no surprise that the PC company would be partnering with the world's largest retailer to test out in-store technical support services.

The experiment involves 15 stores in the Dallas, Texas region. These "Solution Stations by Dell" will focus on home theater installations, PC repair, and wireless network setup assistance. It's hard to see how in-store kiosks can assist customers who then have to take all that equipment home, but for a Dell brand builder alone, the partnership is quite unique.

I'm a bit puzzled how Dell will be able to assist with home theater questions and installations, but that's besides the point. If Wal-Mart really intends to compete with the in-store technical support concept, it needs to attack Best Buy Co., Inc.'s (NYSE: BBY) Geek Squad model and really add some value to that consumer experience. Consumer electronics are more confusing than ever for most U.S. consumers, and having some properly seasoned experts in many Wal-Mart stores to help with all those questions would be of enormous benefit.

Not only would Dell's image be polished if this experiment is successful and the Solution Station kiosk concept goes into more Wal-Mart store locations, but the retailer has a real chance to keep it on top of world in terms of consumer electronics purchases. Circuit City, Inc.'s (NYSE: CC) Firedog concept has been left behind as that retailer continues swirling down the drain, so Wal-Mart and Best Buy may be the only ones that could give technical support on a national stage in all locations. Best Buy, though, is already positioned well ahead of Wal-Mart here. It's Wal-Mart's game to lose.

Welcome to the 69th installment of The Wal-Mart Weekly, a column dedicated to bringing you insight, wit, facts, results, opinions, and just a bit of everything else when it comes to a very hot topic these days: Wal-Mart.

This week, I'll be taking a look labor relations inside Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT). Specifically, reports that the world's largest retailer has recent given its general employees in its Chinese locations raises while not doing the same for its American employees.

Now, all of this is not out of the goodness of the retailer's heart, but more because of the negotiations with the union representation of Wal-Mart's China workers. Can we compare Wal-Mart's stance on living wage increases to another country's workers?

The Associated Press reports that a "Depression Era" mentality is taking hold among consumers. This matters to the overall economy since 70% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth depends on consumer spending. Maybe this is good news because it will make people care more about spiritual matters, and less about material ones.

AP bolsters its consumer mentality shift with excerpts from a Nielsen survey that interviewed 50,000 consumers by e-mail during the first week of June. The survey found that

• 63% of consumers are cutting spending due to rising gas prices, up 18 percentage points from a year ago;
• 78% of consumers are combining shopping trips;
• 52% are eating out less often;
• Consumers are cutting more coupons;
• They do more of their shopping at super centers; and
• They buy less expensive brands.
  

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) said yesterday that it would be changing the logo at its U.S. locations by this fall. The current logo, which is simply the company's name with red lines above and below it, has been in use since 1992.

Wal-Mart continues to integrate the slogan "Save Money. Live Better" into everything it does. That saying is the retailer's current tagline, and even the announcement of the logo change mentions this: "This logo update is simply a reflection of the refreshed image of our stores and our renewed sense of purpose of helping people save money so they can live better." If that isn't a pre-scripted message from the corporate underbelly, I don't know what is.

It appears that the hyphen will be going away in the company's name-based logo. The hyphen was replaced a long time ago by the star anyway, so it's a moot point. According to rumors reported by the WSJ, the new logo will show the retailer's name in white letters on an orange background, followed by a small starburst. I guess orange is less confrontational than blue? Anyway, the image makeover of the retailer's logo comes at a good time. Sometimes breaking the mold and starting over can implant a new image in the mind of the consumer, and if all that is required is a logo change (and the millions of changes on signage it will require), so be it.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is having a good run right now. The world's largest retailer is seeing profit and revenue growth as consumers seek shelter from hue increases in energy and commodity costs and into the retailer's waiting arms. Make no mistake about it -- it's due to "low prices" more than any love for Wal-Mart in general.

But, should you be buying shares of Wal-Mart and dumping shares of financial institutions and banks that are behind the subprime mortgage mess that still plagues the U.S. today? Is the worst behind us in terms of the hundreds of billions of writedowns and losses due to the mortgage implosion? Some investors seem to think so, and they're buying finance stocks again and not going hog wild on stocks that are benefiting directly form consumers trying to save money. Remember, the consumer economy runs the U.S. economy, not the other way around.

For example, shares in Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) have perked up 10% in a little over a week after hitting their lowest level in five years. Is the rise an anomaly, or are bank stocks seeing the light? The market seems to think that March was the "bottom" and that bank stocks (particularly Goldman's) are "near the end instead of the beginning" in terms of working their way back to a solid valuation instead of hitting 52-week lows. This is not to say that Wal-Mart's share rally in 2008 is over by any means, but its shares are trading near four-year highs. Expectations are for WMT shares to peak above $62 soon. Are you shorting?

Welcome to the 64th installment of The Wal-Mart Weekly, a column dedicated to bringing you insight, wit, facts, results, opinions, and just a bit of everything else when it comes to a very hot topic these days: Wal-Mart.

This week, I'll be examining how Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has an effect on the American economy that's easily contrasted against the inability of the U.S. government these days to control inflation.

It seems odd that a single nongovernment entity could be responsible for single-handedly controlling prices in such a way that could be interpreted as controlling inflation, but that's just what a recent Forbes article claimed. Is it true? Let's find out.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is taking steps to eliminate the chemical Bisphenol-A (BPQA) from plastic products on its shelves due to safety concerns. Products containing the chemical are no longer available on store shelves. Previously, they were marked as such to give consumers the choice to purchase BPA-free products. Now, BPA products are gone for good.

The chemical, which is used to make plastic products shatter-proof, is used in baby bottles and water bottles, among other products. Although the FDA has not officially banned BPA from consumer products, several powerful consumer groups have disagreed

While some retailers speak of removing products that contain controversial chemicals or ingredients, it's refreshing to see the world's largest retailer leading the charge on this one. Also joining Wal-Mart in banning BPA products from shelves will be children's toy retailer Toys R Us.

Although this ban was officially announced by Wal-Mart in April, it's great to see the world's largest retailer act on it so quickly. If this is the kind of response to "consumer demand" that makes changes happen, it's impressive to see a compressed timeframe on a consumer safety issue like this one.

Welcome to the 63rd installment of The Wal-Mart Weekly, a column dedicated to bringing you insight, wit, facts, results, opinions, and just a bit of everything else when it comes to a very hot topic these days: Wal-Mart.

This week, I'll be examining the just-completed annual shareholder's meeting that took place for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) yesterday. After I covered last year's meeting live, this year's meeting seemed to be quite different from all aspects.

Mostly, the timing of the recession (yes, I said it) this year has helped bolster Wal-Mart's most recent sales figures and gave it reason to give itself much self-congratulatory praises. Wal-Mart, despite recent efforts to cater to anyone other than the bargain-seeking shopper, went back to its one core strength this year: offering the lowest prices on everything it can.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Vodafone Group Plc (NYSE: VOD) and Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ), is in talks to acquire Alltel Corp. in a deal valued at about $27B, the Wall Street Journal reported. If successful, the combined companies would create the largest cellphone company, and would be better positioned to compete against AT&T Inc (NYSE: T).
• Gregory B. Penner, the son-in-law of Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) chairman S. Robson Walton, is expected to join the company's board of directors, a move seen as the beginning of a leadership change at the company, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• The Financial Times reported that Singaporean sovereign wealth fund Temasek refused to provide funds to Bear Stearns shortly before Bear's sale to JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM). Temasek reportedly refused the request for practical and political reasons.
• Russia's Interior Ministry questioned the head of BP Plc's (NYSE: BP) Russian oil venture as part of a criminal investigation into possible large-scale tax evasion, the Financial Times reported.

Next week's annual shareholder's meeting in Fayetteville should once again be more spectacle that business.Last year, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) seemed to spend more money lining up speakers, having pieces of its global operations dance with flags and having a pep rally rather that digging into issues.This year, expect the same -- as the retailer has already opposed all the shareholder proposals anyway, so it should be a nice, big party full of entertainment. Nothing else.

But Wal-Mart is enhancing one of its corporate messages this year: the way shareholders vote on the proposals. The annual report this year will include less pages and will be printed on lighter, recycled paper with Wal-Mart's investor relations website printed on it to direct shareholders there for further reading. This is an area where Wal-Mart can afford to be not so green. If you're like me, you may prefer annual reports on printed paper. Call me old fashioned, but a highlight marker, a quiet desk and a good reading light comprise the best environment for reading an annual shareholder report.

Wal-Mart, of course, defended its action to sway more shareholders to its IR website for the full annual report by stating that "we're glad that an increasing number of our shareholders worldwide have joined us in that effort ... by filing their proxy ballots electronically." Seems there is little choice for the alternative to me. If you're interested, head over here and read the proxy statement. If you're a shareholder, you can go ahead and vote on the web as well. Put away the highlighter, though.