STEVE INSKEEP, host: NPR's Business News starts with layoffs at Wal-Mart.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: Regular Wal-Mart stores still have growing sales, but the giant retailer is cutting more than 11,000 jobs at its Sam's Club warehouse stores. Most of the people losing their positions have been conducting in-store products demonstrations.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: A Wal-Mart spokesperson told the New York Times the layoffs are not a cost-cutting measure, strictly speaking. The company has decided to outsource these jobs in the hope that a separate marketing company will do a better job and boost sales. Sam's Club faces tough competition from Costco. And earlier this month, Wal-Mart announced plans to close 10 Sam's Club stores.
Wal-Mart says it's cutting about 10 percent of the workforce at it warehouse club stores. About 10,000 members of the demonstration department are being let go, mostly part-time workers. The company is also cutting its new business membership representative positions, affecting about two staffers per store. Sam's Club faces tough competition from Costco.