Canuckflack

It’s not much of a surprise, but Wal-Mart is testing new pricing and product models - including a test store with more upmarket products.

” … the addition of upscale products in key future growth areas is an important tool to attract new customers without alienating the company’s core shoppers in search of the lowest prices for basic goods. At a 203,000-square-foot test store in Plano, Texas, an upscale suburb of Dallas, Wal-Mart is showcasing expensive jewelry, $500 bottles of wine, plasma TV sets and other expensive items along with organic foods. Now, some of those items are trickling into other stores.” (Forbes)

Hmm. Reminds me of the classic David Wilcox tune “Downtown Came Uptown”:

” … I used to wear jeans
I’m in italian slacks
I had long shaggy hair
It’s cut short and slicked back
I drank three dollar wine
Now it’s cocktails at two
Because downtown came uptown for you …

So you took me uptown
You made your driver wait
Taught me how to eat snails
And caviar on a plate
No more sittin’ in the alley
With the boys drinkin’ blues
Because downtown came uptown for you”

Lacklustre cover of “Downtown Came Uptown” available on YouTube.