• The Morning News [of Northwest Arkansas] , Monday, August 25, 2008 10:30 AM

Sam's Club tries to appeal to both the individual looking to save money on bulk items for the family and the business member loading up on everything from industrial kitchen supplies to hotel furniture. Instead of meeting somewhere in the middle, it is finding ways to directly appeal to both.

Take Sam's Club Business Center, a new concept and format for the 25-year-old unit of Wal-Mart that will open Aug. 27 in Houston.

Many features tailored to the individual -- like the café and pharmacy -- have been replaced with things like shop-in coolers, a walk-in tobacco cage and 154 rental mailboxes. The center also adds a print, copy and ship center and an expanded assortment of office supplies to give competitors like Office Depot and Staples a run for their money.

But the warehouse club operator is also trying to appeal to the average mom. Jill Turner-Mitchell is the Sam's Club chief executive of mom -- a real title. Through the eyes of the female head of household, she finds items that, while money-saving, aren't entirely practical. Ketchup, for example, which came in a one-gallon container, now comes in three regular size containers.

Read the whole story at The Morning News [of Northwest Arkansas] »