Walmart plans early layaway programme to catch Star Wars boost

Chicago

FOR the second year in a row, Wal-Mart Stores Inc will begin its holiday layaway programme two weeks early, hoping for a head start to the year-end shopping season and a repeat of last year's strong toy sales driven by Star Wars products.

Layaway programmes, which let shoppers pay for holiday gifts in instalments, tend to have a big impact on sales. Analyst estimates suggest the programme may account for as much as 15 per cent of holiday revenues …