Wal-Mart D&D?

[2d6]

from Hasting site

Hastings was founded in 1968 as a retailing division of Western Merchandisers, Inc. ("Western"), a book and music wholesaler. Historically, we received corporate and support services from Western, including purchasing, distribution, information systems, accounting, payroll and advertising. In fiscal 1991, Western was acquired by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. ("Wal-Mart"), and in connection with that transaction, we became an independent entity with all shares of the Company being distributed to the former shareholders of Western. Initially, Hastings continued to rely on Western for certain corporate and support services, which were provided pursuant to a service agreement. In fiscal 1993, we determined that is was in our best interest to operate independently of the service agreement. As a result, we began to develop and expand a variety of corporate functions, including a proprietary, fully integrated information system designed to enhance our purchasing, inventory, personnel scheduling, distribution, planning and accounting functions. In fiscal 1994, Western was sold to Anderson News Corporation but continued to provide Hastings with corporate and support services under their new name, Anderson Merchandisers, Inc ("Anderson"). In fiscal 1995, we began implementing our information system and opened a new corporate headquarters and a 100,000 square foot distribution center, all in Amarillo, Texas. We reduced our use of Anderson's support services during fiscal 1995, and utilized no further services from Anderson after the service agreement expired effective January 31, 1996. As a result of developing and implementing its proprietary information system and corporate infrastructure, we committed $12.8 million from fiscal 1993 to fiscal 1997. Today Hastings is a leading multimedia entertainment retailer combining the sale of books, music, software, periodicals, new and used DVDs, videos and video games with the rental of videos, DVDs and video games in a superstore format. We currently operate 140 superstores averaging approximately 22,000 square feet, primarily in small to medium-sized markets in 21 states.

Hastings Entertainment is a publicly traded company on NASDAQ under the symbol HAST

 

[Gizzard]

They have numerous traits that they assign to each store and if the "D&D" trait is applied, then they'll be there. I would imagine that it would, at the very least, need to be defined as a college store.

This is intriguing. I wonder how many traits there are; I didn't imagine that you could get down to the granularity of "D&D". I mean, from a mass-market perspective, you still have to have a significant chunk of your stores having any given trait or else you are effectively not mass-marketing. Which means you are not discounting effectively.

I also wonder what sort of things might go to a "college store"? Uncensored music or risque magazine covers? It's odd that WalMart hews such a conservative line with respect to these things if they actually can differentiate between different geographic areas.

 

[The Lemon Merchant]

In the armpit of Idaho where I reside, the two stores are across the street from each other

Which armpit in Idaho? I'm in Boise and I would really like to pick up my copies.

 

[Cog]

I was majorly surprised that not only did Walmart sell almost 80 WotC products, but they also sold products by other d20 publishers including AEG and even Malhavoc Press! And, for a lot of them, they give a bigger discount than Amazon.

 

[Darrin Drader]

In the armpit of Idaho where I reside, the two stores are across the street from each other, and basically Hastings is like a tripped out book/record/video store that has all the goodies that Wal Mart doesn't (music with an adult lyric here and there, D&D books, grown up magazines and videos, a huge selection of art books, weird action figures and various odd items, like resin skulls and various hippie-ish gear).

You aren't in Moscow ID are you? If so, that's just 8 miles away from my home town.

 

[AlphaOmega]

WalMart Book Business 101

This is intriguing. I wonder how many traits there are; I didn't imagine that you could get down to the granularity of "D&D". I mean, from a mass-market perspective, you still have to have a significant chunk of your stores having any given trait or else you are effectively not mass-marketing. Which means you are not discounting effectively.

I also wonder what sort of things might go to a "college store"? Uncensored music or risque magazine covers? It's odd that WalMart hews such a conservative line with respect to these things if they actually can differentiate between different geographic areas.

I've lost count on how many times this topic has arisen. But I'll try to shed some light on this again. I'm a long-time lurker with a little less than 40 posts. But I think half have been on this subject.

First off, I'm happy to see former Wal-Mart employees respond and respond correctly. In other threads, people were just clueless on how Walmart handles their book business.

As Hairy Minotaur said there is an "outside" company who handles the books. Correct. The "outside" company is called Anderson Merchandisers and I've worked for them for nearly 2 years. And die_kluge said Walmart has "traits" that determine what books that specific store carries. Once again correct.

I had to get that off my chest, because this seems to be the first thread on this subject where people just aren't randomly guessing on how the business is run and what decisions are made.

Now, as far as the traits go they can get quite specific but usually they are broad indictions on how popular a genre is for that store and how much room they have to devote to it. There has got to be over 50 different traits with each having modifiers like size. As far as D&D books... most people can quit looking in the stores.

The books being sold are from Walmart.com and any book that finds its way into a store is because of a return. The traits and planograms for each and every section are done months in advance and I never saw anything about them and I looked high and low. To be brutaly honest, RPG books wouldn't justify the space needed to make a good presentation as far as Walmart and Anderson is concern. I wish the stores I serviced did but science-fiction (which is what the books would be classified as) is such as small section typically and gets a 2ft space as most.

and for the record... you can also quit looking for uncensored music too Gizzard... I'm just filled with good news

hope that helps

 

[hellbender]

You aren't in Moscow ID are you? If so, that's just 8 miles away from my home town.

And answering DiamondB as well: I'm currently situated in Lewiston, about as far away from civilization as it gets. Are you from Troy or Pullman, Baraendur? Or possibly Colton? I do slide up to Moscow fairly frequently to wargame or just get out of this slag pit for a few hours, sometimes getting in a bit of D&D up there or hanging out with friends. Moscow is like granola heaven, but hey, up until the politicians got involved, it was one of the few places in the US where women could legally go topless. Some sorority girls had a carwash last summer up there to raise rent money. Eric's grandmother would have had a fit at such antics!

hellbender

 

[Desdichado]

Moscow is like granola heaven, but hey, up until the politicians got involved, it was one of the few places in the US where women could legally go topless. Some sorority girls had a carwash last summer up there to raise rent money. Eric's grandmother would have had a fit at such antics!

Well, that woke me up this morning!

 

[PatrickLawinger]

Re: WalMart Book Business 101

<Trimmed a bit>

The books being sold are from Walmart.com and any book that finds its way into a store is because of a return. The traits and planograms for each and every section are done months in advance and I never saw anything about them and I looked high and low. To be brutaly honest, RPG books wouldn't justify the space needed to make a good presentation as far as Walmart and Anderson is concern. I wish the stores I serviced did but science-fiction (which is what the books would be classified as) is such as small section typically and gets a 2ft space as most.

and for the record... you can also quit looking for uncensored music too Gizzard... I'm just filled with good news

hope that helps

Ah, so my guess that the books I saw might have been a return may have been on the money then? I don't recall seeing multiple copies, just seeing the book(s) on the shelf. If I recall correctly one of my boys noticed them. I am pretty sure it was a Wal-mart.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Whoo-hoo! Got all three of my books in yesterday morning. Spent all evening reading them.