Big boxes.(Brands To Watch)(discount superstores)(Brief Article)

Among the discount department stores, Wal-Mart remains the biggest spender and is expected to continue to spend aggressively in 2004. It's battling bad press over how it treats its employees, but the company has been fighting back of late, more aggressively challenging the media on disputed facts. Sales sources say its TV ad campaign this year will put employees--happy employees--in the spotlight to counter some of the press reports.

Target, insiders say, is one to watch. The retailer actually reduced its TV spending last year but is poised to reverse course in 2004 in