Wal-Mart: Forget flowers and chocolate - Buy Wii Fit for Mother’s Day!
By Dave Parrack
Wii Fit has sold massively in Japan since its release in December 2007, shifting over a million units and helping keep the Nintendo Wii at the top of the games hardware charts. It recently launched in Europe, and is already sold out in many high street retailers. Next, it’s the turn of the U.S. to get the game, and retailers are looking at intriguing new ways to market the game/lifestyle device.
Red Orbit are reporting that Wal-Mart are marketing the game as the perfect present for Mother’s Day this year, a viable alternative to the more traditional flowers and chocolate.
The game is due to be released in the U.S. on May 19th, so with Mother’s day falling on May 11th this year, the company’s online division is offering a $10 gift card to anyone who pre-orders the game by May 10th.
Kelly Thompson, Walmart.com’s chief merchant said:
“Initial response is extremely strong, and we’re feeling really good about Nintendo Wii Fit dominating the home page. We really like the angle of marketing it to Mom.”
This is a sensible move, especially in light of the economic downturn which is starting to adversely affect all retailers. A secondary holiday such as Mother’s Day is now becoming an essential tool in a retailer and marketer’s arsenal.
However, I’m not sure if my mum would be happy if I bought her a copy of Wii Fit, and not just because she doesn’ have a Nintendo Wii to play it on obviously. She’d much rather get a big bunch of flowers and some expensive chocolates than a piece of software which when given as a present basically says “You look like you need to lose weight and get fitter.”
I applaud Wal-Mart for this marketing move, but I for one, won’t be taking them up on the offer.
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Tips N4G
May 5th, 2008
XD
I dont want my mom doing yoga on TV… I need to keep the TV free… for my late night hooker bashings…. DAMN YOU NINTENDO!!!
May 5th, 2008
yes…because it’s ALWAYS a good idea to remind your mom she’s a lard butt on Mother’s Day.
May 6th, 2008
DAVE PARRACK……… lol just Jokin dude.
May 6th, 2008
I dont get the DAVE PARRACK comment… am I missing something spidey???
May 6th, 2008
I think I must be missing the same thing. My name may be unusual but it’s not normally a joke in its own right
May 6th, 2008
Sorry guys, sometimes I have a displaced sence of humour… A little while ago a post was made by Kevin (I think) having a dig at Dave by caps locking his name. Dave came back with “You don’t need to shout”. I just thought of throwing it in for fun. Obviously this happened a while ago and is forgotten.
I will crawl back under thy rock now.
May 6th, 2008
I felt the need to spontaneously shout your name, I am only human you know…..
May 6th, 2008
DAVE PARRACK!!!
XD
May 6th, 2008
lol dwh
May 7th, 2008
Spidey,
Actually, I think the “DAVE PARRACK!” joke is a pretty well-established running gag among the posting “elite” here at Gamer.Blorge. At least, everytime Mr. P posts a new blog, the first thing I want to post is: DAVE PARRACK!
But I resist the urge every time. I almost cracked today though. Even though now I have techincally posted it twice in one post now…
…….
DAVE PARRACK!
Ok, three times.
-Arvis
May 7th, 2008
OMG I think I actually saw you trip and fall onto the keyboard and accidently write DAVE PARRACK on that 3rd one….lol, oh fig, all this shouting is making me nauseous.
May 8th, 2008
DAVE PARRACK
Oh davy oh davy…
we call out your name…
Oh davy… oh davy…
kevin’s pretty lame…
oh davy.. oh davy…
Your last name almost sounds like Barrack…
Oh davy… oh davy…
Youre just plain old.. Dave Paraaaaaaaaaaaack…
Sing it with me everyone….
May 8th, 2008
You forgot to shout it at the end….
May 8th, 2008
what do you think the long Dave Paraaaaaaaaaaaack was for.. for dramatic effect..
what would you know.. you know nothing of art and theatre and theatrics…. silly Philistine..