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Contact: Meghan Scott, 202-721-8014

Wal-Mart Announces New Advertising Slogan in Another Effort to Save Face

Today, amid heightened fears and numerous recalls of tainted food and dangerous products, Wal-Mart revealed a new advertising campaign claiming the retail giant is saving Americans money. The campaign is Wal-Mart’s latest attempt to boost its faltering sales and save its declining public image.

Along with the new advertising campaign, Wal-Mart issued an updated report on the company’s supposed savings to the American consumer. The non-profit think tank Economic Policy Institute found the methodology of the initial 2005 report to be “fraught with problems.”

WakeUpWalMart.com Spokeswoman Meghan Scott issued the following statement:

“As America’s largest private employer, Wal-Mart’s stubborn refusal to change its irresponsible business practices hurts its workers, their families, our nation… and Wal-Mart’s own profits.

With over $12 billion in annual profits, Wal-Mart has long had the power to make better the lives of its workers and the American people by providing affordable healthcare, paying a living wage, adopting a zero-tolerance policy on unlawful child labor, and making a meaningful commitment to safe, American-made products.

Instead, Wal-Mart pressures its Chinese suppliers to cut corners on product and food safety, drives American manufacturing jobs overseas, and prices health insurance out of workers’ reach. Wal-Mart’s failure to provide affordable health care cost taxpayers an estimated $1.3 billion in government health care programs in 2005, and is projected to cost taxpayers an estimated $9 billion by 2011.

Wal-Mart can truly salvage its dismal public image only by becoming a responsible business and a model employer. But, time and again, Wal-Mart has refused to do the right thing.

Now, Wal-Mart seems to think a catchy new ad slogan will do the trick. The American people are smarter than that.”