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		<title>Walmart launches Facebook group to capitalize on the college crowd</title>
		<link>http://www.variablemarkup.com/2007/08/17/walmart-launches-facebook-group-to-capitalize-on-the-college-crowd/</link>
		<comments>http://www.variablemarkup.com/2007/08/17/walmart-launches-facebook-group-to-capitalize-on-the-college-crowd/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Aug 2007 03:11:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael Julson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Social Networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[walmart]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Walmart launched a Facebook group to capitalize on the college crowd using social networking technologies.  Walmart&#8217;s group includes a javascript app that allows<a href="http://www.variablemarkup.com/2007/08/17/walmart-launches-facebook-group-to-capitalize-on-the-college-crowd/" class="searchmore">Read the Rest...</a><div class="clr"></div>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p align="left"><a rel="attachment wp-att-24" href="http://www.variablemarkup.com/2007/08/17/walmart-launches-facebook-group-to-capitalize-on-the-college-crowd/walmarttestjpg/" title="walmarttest.jpg"><img align="left" src="http://www.variablemarkup.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/walmarttest.thumbnail.jpg" alt="walmarttest.jpg" /></a>Walmart launched a Facebook group to capitalize on the college crowd using social networking technologies.  Walmart&#8217;s group includes a javascript app that allows Facebook users who visit the Wal-Mart group to take a quiz to determine their decorating style and get a list of &#8220;recommended products&#8221; they can buy at Wal-Mart to combine their style with their roommate&#8217;s.  The quiz works like a simplistic Myers-Briggs personality test and from that it determines products that fit that style. </p>
<p align="left">A study conducted last year by the National Retail Federation shows the average first-year college student spent $1,112.62, mainly on electronics and home furnishings.  Walmart hopes to capitalize on this and it&#8217;s new &#8220;Site to Store&#8221; offering which allows consumers to order on the web and pick up in the store. <span id="more-23"></span></p>
<p align="left"> So far the Facebook app has gained 661 members, although this doesn&#8217;t show how many people used the app without joining the group.   It&#8217;s also interesting at how many negative posts have been made about Walmart on their &#8220;Wall&#8221;.  The &#8220;Wall&#8221; is a built in application in Facebook which allows users to leave graffiti like messages on the user/group&#8217;s profile page.  The negative messages range from comments about the quality of Walmart&#8217;s merchandising to their workplace practices. </p>
<p align="left"> I&#8217;m not sure if this can be considered a sucess or not.  It would be interesting to see what results someone like Target would have if they made a similar offering. </p>
<p align="left"> Update:  Up to 1062 users.  More comments and coverage on the story below.</p>
<p align="left"><a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.forrester.com/charleneli/2007/08/wal-marts-faceb.html">Forrester -Charlene Li </a><br />
<a rel="bookmark" target="_blank" href="http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2007/08/24/walmarts-facebook-strategy-sinking/">WalMart’s Facebook Strategy Sinking: Analysis and Reccomendations </a><br />
<a target="_blank" href="http://retaildesigndiva.blogs.com/retail_design_diva/2007/08/facebook-takes-.html">Facebook Takes Over the Retail World &#8211; Retail Design Diva<br />
</a></p>
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