Attention designers: Walmart is moving in on your turf

News

24 July 2009

VANCOUVER—The world's largest retailer is getting into the graphic arts industry. Small businesses can now get marketing and business materials from Walmart, as part of the chain store’s new partnership with Vancouver-based PNI Digital Media. PNI has created more than 100 design templates for business cards, notepads, letterhead, envelopes, flyers and posters, as well as customized calendars, fridge magnets, golf balls and mugs that customers can now order through the new Walmart Business Printing service.

Walmart outsources its printing to third-party suppliers. PNI processes and tracks orders, which can be made online or in-store.

“With an average of 130,000 new small businesses opening across Canada yearly, we’re excited about the growth potential of this marketplace,” said Kyle Hall, CEO of PNI Digital Media, in a release. “Over time, we will see more services and products added to the PNI Digital Media platform that are focused on solutions for small business.” Contact: www.pnidigitalmedia.com

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Comments (10)

1. Anonymous

24 July 2009 at 5:47 PM

That's f•ct up!

2. Cameron Van Dusen

24 July 2009 at 7:00 PM

Personally, I do not see this being a big threat to designers, as there are already plenty of these "templated" stationary providers all over the country. The fact that Walmart is getting into the stationary business is probably not going to change anything. They may steal business from companies such as Vista Print through sheer convenience, but those looking for original work will still approach design firms. I may be stating the obvious, but it had to be said.

3. Anonymous

27 July 2009 at 9:09 AM

I'm trembling.

4. Scott

27 July 2009 at 9:06 PM

Great! Now more people can think they are designers without ever having a true understanding of the work.
We see it with people thinking they can do photo work with their point and shoot cameras which come with some software allowing them to click a button and get rid of red-eye.

5. Anonymous

28 July 2009 at 7:37 AM

What's next? Medical care?

6. Mike Rehder

4 August 2009 at 1:20 PM

I agree with Cameron Van Dusen -- Start-ups and small businesses that will use WalMart's services would likely never have used a traditional boutique design firm or advertising agency for their branding and collateral print. They will only be stealing business from Staples, Costco, Kinko's and their ilk.

Personally, the only part of this story that is irresponsible is DesignEdge publishing it so can have a bold and frightening headline (for some).

7. Marlena

4 August 2009 at 1:40 PM

The reality is there will always be businesses who are only willing to spend $50 on a logo or a custom business card & think this is normal.....but this is a market that a professional designer wants nothing to do with anyway ~ the real threat is more & more designers/design studios stooping to make a buck....giving people the notion that this is ok.
We're in a tough situation, because the market isn't great for us right now....& we still need to make a living.......YET by lowering our prices to compete with hackers just depreciates our value further & makes our futures even more uncertain.

8. Amanda Weedmark

7 August 2009 at 12:56 PM

I feel like I'm a reading Craigslist ad for embarassingly cheap graphic design from someone who doesn't understand the first thing about the industry *laughs*

At first I was worried but I think businesses who truly want to invest wisely, won't bite.

9. Anonymous

11 August 2009 at 11:03 AM

I agree with Marlena. And I agree with Cameron. But I still don't agree with Walmart and the way they are destroying various industries across the board which is why I refuse to shop there. I look forward to the day Walmart implodes on itself so I can see small businesses and local communities thrive again.

10. Cameron Van Dusen

22 October 2009 at 10:44 AM

I don't think we have long to wait to see Walmart implode. In my city, Walmart's biggest competition is already itself. Stores are starting to cannibalize each other. It is really quite sad, but I'm getting off topic. The other thing Walmart will have to compete with on the graphics front is it's own reputation for being cheap. Let's face it. If you hear something was bought at Walmart, people automatically assume it will only have a life span of a couple of weeks, months at the most. I don't think that Walmart will steal enough business away from Staples, Office Depot, Kinko's and the like to even be a real threat.

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