During 2006 and 2007 Walmart decided to eliminate two long-standing components of its business: merchandise layaway and fabric sold by the yard. Each of these decisions met with considerable controversy among Walmart customers.

1) In a brief paragraph, explain Walmart's point of view in making each decision. Include information you can find about the profitability of the segment and possible plan for an alternative in the fabric decision.

2) Describe the "typical" Walmart customer who was most impacted by these decisions.

3) Write a brief paragraph from the typical customer's point of view explaining how Walmart's decision would impact the customer.

4) Identify three possible effects of each decision on other segments of Walmart's business, be specific in terms of both the segment and the possible impact.

5) Consider a small rural community in an economically depressed area of the USA. How might each of these decisions impact the people in that community? Contract this to the impact felt in larger urban areas of rhe country.

Your initial posting of answers to the questions should be 150 to 300 words in length, include at least one academic source that is properly cited.