"With a 6.8 comp in April, we were pleased with strong seasonal sales for Easter," said Tom Schoewe, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. executive vice president and chief financial officer. "Rising fuel costs were overshadowed by the customers response to merchandise in apparel for the entire family and consumables.
"April was a strong month for toys, from traditional items like dolls, balls and outdoor toys to electronics," Schoewe said. "We have seen customers buying more toys, video games, music and movies, in addition to candy, to fill Easter baskets."
Schoewe added that during the 4-week and 13-week periods, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. increased its sales by more than $3.5 billion and $8.8 billion, respectively."
In recent years, Wal-Mart targeted the LOHAS (lifestyles of health and sustainability) consumer. Recent purchases of organic cotton and the increase in brands that cater to this affluent customer base demonstrate this trend.organic cptton
One of Wal-Marts best selling brands is Earth Spirit Shoes which contributed to the sales increase. It is likely that Earth Spirit Shoes will extend its presence in Wal-Mart by offer a clothing line based upon organic cotton, hemp blends and other eco-fibers. This is a perfect match for the LOHAS consumer.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAMS CLUB locations in the United States. The Company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The companys securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting http://www.walmartfacts.com . Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com
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