Report: Wal-Mart Shifting Strategies

Rogers, Ark. Rather than assume Wal-Mart shoppers will flock to the lowest-price items at stores amid a struggling economy, some customers are using the store’s broad range of items to sustain their standard of living while still cutting back, according to the Associated Press.

Wal-Mart executives discussed the company’s shifting strategies during a retail trends conference put on near company headquarters by the Sam Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, in Rogers.

For instance, Ben & Jerry's ice-cream sales are up, as consumers are opting for top-shelf ice cream over a trip to the ice-cream parlor.

The same goes for high-definition TVs, which consumers are buying with the thought of spending more evenings at home. Likewise for food, with more people eating at home and cooking from scratch.

Wal-Mart said it has streamlined its offerings in a way that emphasizes growth items yet still allows customers to find items the company must stock to remain a one-stop destination.