Quote:
Originally Posted by 93terp
WalMart's customer base isn't what I'd call book/reading enthusiasts.
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You'd be surprised.
It's not a class warfare thing, though.
WalMart mostly deals in essentials and day to day stuff.
Not luxury goods or premium versions for disposable income.
Gaming consoles are about as far as they go in that direction.
For example, they move a lot of VIZIO TVs but it's almost exclusively the low end V-series of LCDs. The higher end Quantum P-series and OLED models won't be there because they're slower moving. Computers you'll more likely find a Stream Laptop for kids than an Alienware rig.
It's about volume and speed.
Floorspace costs money and just like B&N added pricey toys and "lifestyle" merchandise to boost the bottom line, Wallmart ads higher priced stuff from time to time: house brand gaming PCs for example.
But their key metric is always money per square foot per day.
And books are at the low end, today.
Over half the market is online and digital and the total market has been flat all decade.
Books are just not a good fit for B&M anymore.
It can be made to work as a specialty and regional draw, like Powell's, but selling "everywhere books" is not a rainmaker.