Mark's Notebook

Wal-Mart brings Christmas back into stores

Los Angeles Times

By Alana Semuels, Times Staff Writer; November 10, 2006

The holiday season may not yet have arrived, but Christmas is back at Wal-Mart.

After being vilified by conservative critics last year for switching its holiday message from "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays," the world's largest retailer changed its mind again.

The chain said Thursday that 60% more of its merchandise will be labeled "Christmas" compared with last year. And customers will hear Christmas carols as they shop.

"We certainly got some feedback last year," spokesman Nick Agarwal said. "We're hoping this will be more in tune with what customers want."

Last year, activists lambasted Wal-Mart. The American Family Assn. and Liberty Counsel organized boycotts of stores with "holiday" campaigns. More than 700,000 supporters signed a petition asking Wal-Mart to use the word "Christmas."

"Wal-Mart has seen the light," said Mathew Staver, founder of Orlando, Fla.-based Liberty Counsel. "The American people are tired of having Christmas censored or secularized."

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-walmart10nov10,1,763467.story

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