Wal-Mart’s Logo Through the Ages
Wal-Mart’s logo has evolved over the company’s 60 year history, but none have been as slick as the company’s newest version. Wal-Mart’s older logos were straightforward and purely functional: all Sam Walton needed was a way to let people know the name of his store. But Wal-Mart’s logo has now become a complicated piece of PR machinery, serving purposes far beyond Sam’s utilitarian signs. Elizabeth Blackwell on The Street says:
For years, Wal-Mart has inspired plenty of emotions, from fear that the behemoth was destroying small towns to anger at the perceived abuse of low-paid associates. What the company is after now is that warm-and-fuzzy feeling that keeps shoppers loyal because they believe in the store’s values and mission.
Wal-Mart is hoping mightily that this new image will make shoppers forget about Wal-Mart’s persistent labor problems, sweatshop allegations, environmental damages and legal issues. The company’s “values and mission” remain low prices at the cost of nearly everything else, but even Wal-Mart is realizing the problems with a race-to-the-bottom corporate image.
Enter our Unofficial Wal-Mart Logo Redesign Contest to create a logo that represents Wal-Mart’s true corporate values. We’ll be announcing the contest winners in the next week or so, so be sure to send in your entries soon. Below, for inspiration, a look back at Wal-Mart’s logos over the years.
Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Monday, July 07, 2008
COMMENTS
who cares about a logo?big deal.why is this crap so newsworthy?dont have anything else to talk about wmw?
m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Tuesday, July 08 at 04:04 AM
Apparently you don’t. You use the same words every time.
Foxtrot
Foxtrot in Waukesha, WI
Tuesday, July 08 at 06:28 AM
Walmarts new logo?
Wash a dog, comb a dog; still a dog.
R E M E M B E R
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse
Alex in Ontario, Canada
Tuesday, July 08 at 06:32 AM
<---- (((drags))) out his avocational psychiatry couch.
My interest in Wal-Mart begins with the death of Sam in 1992. It’s my contention that’s when Sam’s Dream began metastasizing into the Beast of Bentonville.
One criticizm of the post-Sam Wal-Mart is arrogance. Does the ‘92 redesign from the vanilla WAL-MART to the star-studded WAL«MART, complete with copyright notification, indicate a certain arrogance?
Ken V in Texas
Tuesday, July 08 at 07:08 AM
Your idea is an interesting one, Ken. Sam’s death was definitely a turning point for the company. Though his passing was not necessarily the cause of the changes you describe, I think a lot of people view that moment as the time when Wal-Mart went from being a hometown company to a megacorporation.
I hadn’t thought about the trademark point you make, though the star does add a certain amount of Hollywood pizzaz those earlier logos lacked.
Alex Goldschmidt in Wal-Mart Watch
Tuesday, July 08 at 08:57 AM
Alex and Ken: I don’t know if it’s accurate,or urban legend,but long ago I read someplace that the star represented Sam,in remembrance of his passing.
ddrb in
Tuesday, July 08 at 09:07 AM
Years ago I read a book called “The Wal-Mart Decade.” I don’t remember the author. Anyway this book was a pro Wal-Mart book from start to finish. But it was a book that told you who gave us the corporation we now know. It was David Glass, the CEO who took over after Sam died. Glass, took Wal-Mart from the home town discount store to the corporation we now know. He built stores anywhere he could. Sam was particular where he built--and he never wanted to expand until all his stores were running smoothly. But not Glass. He just kept building stores.
Under David Glass, Wal-Mart also became the cut throat business we also know. While the pro Wal-Mart feel of the book is hard to stomach--it is an education in the Wal-Mart of today. Worth reading but probably out of print. Those wanting to find it could probably do so online somewhre.
Jane in N.Y. in
Tuesday, July 08 at 11:03 AM
Jane:” Businesses throats “cut” by Glass?
ddrb in
Tuesday, July 08 at 01:11 PM
Alex G.,
However, it was never used as building signage...”
Yes, it was—late 70’s/early 80’s as a secondary sign not much different than the “Satisfaction Guaranteed” signs you see, today…
bbrd in
Wednesday, July 09 at 02:01 PM
who cares about a logo anyway?why is it so newsworthy?
m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Thursday, July 10 at 12:29 PM
why do i spend all my time here?why am i such a moron?
m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Thursday, July 10 at 04:21 PM
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