Everything that's sold Wal-Mart is tracked by the home office. There are some markdowns that every store receives. Almost every month each store get a certain amount of in-store markdown money. The store manager decides how this money is best spent. If there's holiday coming up that department almost always gets the money. The Assistant Manager over that department then decides which items they will mark down, usually based on sales. Almost a decade in management for Wal-Mart before I got enough sense to get away. I finally found something I love, teaching!!! I can almost pinpoint exactly to the day what will be marked down. That's when I go shopping.

You all sound like professionals...so here's a POV from a simple gardener. I love plants so I love going to those nurseries around town that cater to people who love plants...and they provide really cool seminars, great herb plant help for those of us who WANT more than the few types of main herbs sold at "box stores" (including someone getting me a plug of her own sweetgrass plant when they couldn't find one for me) ....they offer thousands and thousanmds of different plants at my favorite nursery. I just would never NOT support such a place!! and they do WELL here ...I know the owenrs and they are youngish, but they are both very open minded to working with the niche they have. They explore it very aggressively (but nicely) . And they do well. This is a free market and there are absolotely millions of people who DO know a thing of two about their plants and will go out of our way to support the places that are there for us. That said, I go to Home Depot too...do I buy plants there? Not so much, no....but I do like to go there and get this great organic compost they've got that I've seen nowhere else. And I have , on the rare occasion, bought a plant from there - they have done just fine, but only because I will only buy a plant that I can see is ok and not too stressed. I know what I'm looking for. I buy far, far more of my plants at the local nurseries and I am not the only one doing that for sure ! The upshot here , I think, is that this is a free market and the smaller establishments CAN cater to their target audience very nicely. I have worked part time at one nursery, another good one, and I have been at many in the area. Do I see them all catering well to their niche? No I don't . But I certainly see some that do incredibly well. And I thnk that is how things tend to fall out...it's just business, it's not about the masses who don't know plants or lost integrity of plant providers or morals or anything like that . In the end perhaps it's really just mostly how well you can flow with your own business. Selling plants is a business. You might love your plants and care for them better than the box stores (and this is definitely true from what I've noted ) however, the plant is a "unit" , no matter how great a unit...and selling units is the object of making money. Business is business. I think all you professionals who sell plants or design for a living are so incredibly blessed!! You are in the business of selling "units" that bring incredible joy , beauty - not mention "units' that can teach patience, love and caretaking ability - to everyone who buys form you or buys your designs. I think that rocks as a profession! Wishing you all a wonderful business year in 2006! Chris

"If they can't sell it, they are not going to stock it." I had to laugh at this - not at the quote itself, but just my local Wal-Mart. Here in Wyoming, January equals snow and ice - our Wal-Mart hasn't had any Ice Melt for over a month "because it's a very popular item right now". If they'd stock it, they could sure sell it!! On a brighter note, our Wal-Mart did away with all embroidery/cross stitch (DMC) thread about a year ago. It's the only place in town that sold it; next nearest store is 50 miles away. There was such a HUGE outcry from all the local ladies, that we now are able to buy DMC embroidery floss again. Sometimes the squeaky wheels DO get the grease! Cate in WY - wishing I had Ice Melt for my walkway............

Way back when I was first learning to cook, thereby having to buy groceries, I made most of my choices of canned or packaged goods by the label. If it was attractive, I reasoned the product would be good; if it was blah, then the product would probably be blah also. I think GV labels are Blah, so I have by passed them. I do shop WM for other things though. MeowMix and Fresh Step are cheaper. I like Carnation Instant Breakfast in the cans, not the packets. Kroger, my fave store, doesn't carry the cans, so I get it at WM. I buy jeans, socks, etc. at WM. This past week I bought a portable mixer there. My other choice for that was KMart and they didn't have any. Anyway, I find the clerks at WMart very helpful, and they usually not only tell you where a certain item is if you ask, but will take you there. I was looking for two items, a weekly pill box and an eye cup. Couldn't find either so a clerk looked and didn't find them, so he went to the Pharmacist and told him what we were looking for and the Pharmacist said they didn't carry them, but to go to either CVS or Riteaid and they should have them. I thought that was really helpful, so I called and Riteaid has the pill box and CVS has the eye cup. I will be in town tomorrow and get them. So there are good points in all stores, as well as bad. For instance, I do not buy meat or produce at WMart. I have gotten good cakes and salads from the Deli though. Sue