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Consumer group warns about toy hazards
Americans gloomy on economy heading into holidays
Banks earn $2.8 billion in third quarter; insurance fund in the red
Akron, Summit County jobless rates increase
Home prices rise for fourth month in a row
Economy's rebound not as strong as first thought
Area home sales fall as U.S. sees gains
Most Read Stories
2 men shot during party in Fairlawn
Cancellation of Christmas not an option
Akron man killed in crash on his street
Akron Children's Hospital CEO, wife announce $1 million gift to support research
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Police: Pennsylvania man killed misbehaving puppy before Steelers game
Akron Circle K store robbed for second time this month
Several people hurt in Akron crash
KSU suspends basketball player
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Blogs:
Pets:
A Dog Named Christmas – Pet for the Holidays
The Heldenfiles:
Viewing Notes
Patrick McManamon:
Of pass interference and alleged "fake" injuries
Akron Zips:
No. 1 Akron to play Stanford next
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Audio: Mangini disputes Poteat call, accuses Lions of faking injuries
Kent State Sports:
Flashes travel to Florida Atlantic
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeye Football – Present and Future
Varsity Letters:
Gulley to visit Central Michigan in December
All Da King's Men:
The Onion, By Any Other Name…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Glaring Contradictions
Akron Law Café:
Don't Try to Have Fun if you are Depressed
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
What Automotive Thing Are You Thankful For?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Faye Dunaway to be Evicted?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Monique asks how to get tickets for the Polar Express.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why I am Glad I live in NEO
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Changes in letters, colors join 'spark' in design
By Mark Albright
St. Petersburg Times
Published on Sunday, Aug 03, 2008
New corporate logos usually aren't news. But Wal-Mart's unveiling of its sixth logo in the retail giant's 46-year history is notable for what disappeared.
The all-cap letters that screamed WAL-MART have been toned down to lowercase. The star/hyphen/squiggly that's been represented in the Wal-Mart cheer with a hula dance has been erased. The patriotic red, white and blue colors have turned to tranquil blue accented by a yellow sun shape called ''the spark.''
''We wanted something softer, friendlier and warmer,'' said Linda Blakley, Wal-Mart spokeswoman. ''The spark is the spirit of our company: innovation, inspiration and people working harder to bring prices down.''
It's one part of Wal-Mart's plan to be more palatable to higher-income families, sort of like Target's bull's-eye symbol only without a cute pit bull.
''People aren't going to change stores because of a logo, but the old one associated Wal-Mart with cheap,'' said Anand Kumar, a University of South Florida marketing professor. ''Along with store improvements, this will help change perceptions.''
When the logo appears in stores, signs and ads this fall, it's the last piece of the latest overhaul of Wal-Mart's public look. The slogan switched from ''Low Prices Always'' to ''Live Better. Save Money.'' Ads are framed in blue. Aisles were widened, floors in apparel departments became wood, and fitting rooms were cleaned up. And the patriotic color combo that dated from the days of Wal-Mart's highly promoted ''Buy America'' program (a response to criticism it was the nation's biggest seller of Chinese imports) has been neutered.
Critics lambast the new logo as bland, boring and uninspired. The spark, variations of which appeared in logos ranging from Holiday Inn to Parmalat to Zayre, has been described as an asterisk, the sprite that activates Pac-Man figures and a sphincter.
Hey, it's Wal-Mart. Everybody has an opinion.
New corporate logos usually aren't news. But Wal-Mart's unveiling of its sixth logo in the retail giant's 46-year history is notable for what disappeared.
Get the full article here.
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