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What's missing from Wal-Mart's new logo? For 16 years, Wal-Mart used a star in its logo to separate the Wal from the Mart. Now, it renders its name as a single word with an asterisk at the end that reminds me of the “asshole” symbol Kurt Vonnegut drew in some of his books. He was a great writer. An asterisk usually denotes an explanatory notation, but the Wal-Mart (Walmart?) version is followed by nothing but white space. At the very least, the retailer could have added a note further down to explain what happened to its Smiley Face icon that disappeared last year. I think I saw him working at Denny’s last weekend. Read more reactions to the new logo over at Ad Goodness. —Posted by David Gianatasio

July 10, 2008 in Gianatasio | Permalink

Comments

So if we assume that the new logo is a Vonnegutian asshole, what is Wal-Mart saying? That they're a bunch of assholes? Or is it their subtle way of explaining what they're doing to the world?

Posted by: adhack | Jul 10, 2008 1:53:55 PM

The "star" was added after Sam Walton died, as a rememberance.

Posted by: dan | Jul 18, 2008 10:48:09 PM

Well now that it's out that Walmart is telling their employees how to vote, the new "spark" logo seems VERY appropriate.
Even being a ginormous corporation, I don't understand how they've gotten away with, and think they can tradmark as their own, two symbols which they did not design. The '70's yellow smiley and a common typographical asterisk.
You'd think with that much money, that particular company could afford a graphic artist to come up with an Original and creative branding identity.

Posted by: wendy | Aug 2, 2008 4:58:49 PM

The "star" was added after Sam Walton died, as a rememberance.

Posted by: huj | Aug 10, 2008 4:11:06 PM

The "star" was added after Sam Walton died, as a rememberance. They do not care anymore.

Posted by: | Aug 10, 2008 4:12:05 PM

So, six lines radiating from a central point is an asterisk - even if they don't intersect? Am I missing something or did you just need to fabricate a topic for your post?

Posted by: tmorrow | Aug 12, 2008 9:19:42 AM

It's subliminal, Wal Mart is the ass hole of the world, and some force in the universe that sees the funnys side of karmic law, placed the idea in some P.R. slut's brain.

I wonder if instead of doing the "squigly" in the ever idiotic Wal Mart cheer, that associates are forced to humiliate themselves doing, everyone farts instead.

Posted by: Zoe | Mar 25, 2009 10:01:39 PM

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