Was there ever any doubt that Wal-Mart wouldn’t allow Sugarland’s Kristian Bush to sell CDs directly to Decatur CD?

The star-struck AJC reported yesterday afternoon that Kristian Bush did indeed stop by Decatur’s bluest brick building yesterday afternoon as promised, but didn’t bring any copies of his latest album, Live On the Inside, with him, due to his surprisingly “ironclad” contract with the low price leader.

Sorry Kristian, Wal-Mart doesn’t care about showing goodwill.  You’re not in Decatur anymore.

To play off the publicity, I think Decatur CD should put up a display of “Alternatives to Sugarland” at the front of the store.  Or if they want to be really snarky – and I hope they do – a “Better Than Sugarland” display.

There once was a band named Sugarland.

Sugarland grew up amongst the rolling hills of Atlanta, feeding off the love and attention given to it by Decatur music mainstays like Eddie’s Attic and Decatur CD.  Then one day, the little country band grew up, moved out and became very famous amongst much greener (ca-ching!) pastures.

Things were fine for a while.  Lord knows Decatur was used to its singing children moving on and succeeding in the bigger world.  But then one day, Sugarland signed an exclusive deal on a new album with Wal-Mart and Decatur (played here by Decatur CD) felt betrayed.

In an open letter on its blog, Decatur CD writes…

About five minutes before we started writing this letter, a customer walked in and inquired about your new CD/DVD release, Live on the Inside. “Do you know if it’s out yet?” she asked. We said that, yes, it was released Tuesday, but that we were not allowed to sell it. She’d have to go to Walmart to get it. “Walmart?” she replied, with an incredulous look. “Really?” She left disappointed, and frankly, we’re disappointed as well.

You guys have been around roughly as long as Decatur CD, and we’ve been supporters of your music from day one. We’ve put your releases on listening stations, given away tickets to your shows and so on. After all, what is a local music scene if not an extended family of sorts? We have to take care of each other.The point is that by shutting the door on independent record stores, you’re in effect shutting the door on your hometown.

Read the full post here.

But this time around, this big-box store eats local store story has a sorta happy ending!  Within two days, Sugarland’s Kristain Bush responded saying…

You are right, and thanks for the suggestion. I am in Houston for a show right now but will come by the store when I get home on Wednesday and bring you a few boxes of discs, We can peel off the Wal-Mart stickers together while we catch up. -Kristian

h/t: Crib Notes

Ann from Mingei writes in that she was saddened to discover a card in a stack of mail announcing “By Hand South Says Goodbye”.

The closing sale, with 30% off savings, begins next Saturday.

I’m not sure whether to laugh, raise an eyebrow, or nod warily at this.

Recently, Wal-Mart has been rolling out plans for what it calls a sustainability index — a measure of how green the products it sells really are. It is asking each of its suppliers, an enormous list of businesses, 15 questions about the life of their products from manufacturing through disposal: questions about greenhouse gas emissions, social responsibility, waste reduction initiatives and water use.

…Wal-Mart has already created a Sustainability Index Consortium, which will include environmental groups and other nonprofits, universities and businesses. The consortium will create the criteria for the index, and will share with Wal-Mart the task of building a product-by-product database measuring the environmental impact of each product’s life cycle.

Oh god!  Guilt-free consumerism is almost here!  Thank you skillful marketing, thank you!

Mingei World Arts‘ email blast has all the details for this Church Street’s final Staycation Sunday of the summer.  The big news is that The Yogurt Tap will be open starting this weekend and will offer free samples on Sunday for the event.

Here are all the details.

Sunday, August 9 1-4pm

The last Staycation Sunday in 2009!

Come on over to Church Street this next Sunday to Get Local. Each of the seven participating businesses on the block will be featuring local suppliers, offering samples and special sales, and door prizes at the end of the day!

What’s happening on the street?

Read the rest of this entry »

Well, now I know where I’ll be dragged next Saturday.

From the Decatur Minute…FYI – the website cited in the ad below seems to be out-dated.

Just call me Daily Candy…

Head on over to Wiggle’s blog and get details about the huge kid’s clothes warehouse sale this Friday and Saturday off Ellsworth Drive in Atlanta.  Up to 70% off spring and summer clothes!

Decatur kids clothing store, Wiggle, has this note in this week’s issue of the DBA newletter…

Attention Shoppers! Mark your calendars for this Friday, July 17. The annual Wiggle summer half-off sale begins at 9am sharp! All spring and summer clothing will be discounted 50% off. Our fabulous sale runs through Wednesday, July 22. After Wednesday, all clothing will move to the Children’s Boutique Warehouse Sale (July 24-25) – so shop early for best selection!