5. How have Wal-Mart and Target stores performed lately?

Wal-Mart Stores is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large, discount department stores. It is the world's largest public corporation by revenue.It is the largest private employer in the world and the fourth largest utility or commercial employer. Wal-Mart is the largest grocery retailer in the United States.

On September 12, 2007, Wal-Mart introduced new advertising with the slogan, "Save Money Live Better," replacing the "Always Low Prices, Always" slogan, which it had used for the previous 19 years.

Global Insight, which conducted the research that supported the ads, found that Wal-Mart's price level reduction resulted in savings for consumers.

Saving people money to help them live better is the goal of Wal-Mart. It’s the focus that underlies everything at Wal-Mart. And for the millions of customers who shop in these stores it means a lot. By offering the best possible prices on the products customers need, Wal-Mart can help them afford something a little extra.

Target Corporation's main retailing subsidiary, Target Stores, is a United States discount retail chain consisting of 1,591(more than 1500) stores. It has units in all states except for Alaska, Hawaii, and Vermont, operating under the heads of Target, Target Greatland, and SuperTarget. Target Corporation has aggressive plans to have 2,000 stores open by the year 2010, including expanding to Alaska and Hawaii.

Target stores tend to attract younger and more educated and affluent customers than its competitors.

Target has cultivated a more upmarket and style-conscious image than other discount retailers. It is the third-largest general retailer in the US by revenues.

Unit 6. Advertising.