They won't be there in 10 years. Most independent drugstores have given up and gone as the big drugstores come into town. ... It's kind of the end of an era. |
They're trying to sell to a 2006 customer with a 1980s presentation. When people want to shop at your store because of a unique battery, that's a weak niche. |
This is a core product category that generates a lot of profit from sales of products and the extended service warrantees. Sears needs to protect this business at all costs. |
This is going to be a big week, no question. |
This summer, the consumer was cautious, with all the uncertainty going on in the country. But almost all of those worries are gone, and that is good news at the start of the holiday season. |
To a great extent, the brand has become a non-brand. It has not been nurtured or built upon for the last few years. They won't necessarily save money, but they'll consolidate their advertising dollars to a limited number of brands and do it better. |
Today, only about one-third of holiday purchases are returned as compared to just four years ago, ... Returns are very expensive for retailers because they have to retag the item and mark down the price. If I bought something for $29 and return it, store may have to cut the price to as low as $14 before restocking it. |
Today, only about one-third of holiday purchases are returned as compared to just four years ago. Returns are very expensive for retailers because they have to retag the item and mark down the price. If I bought something for $29 and return it, store may have to cut the price to as low as $14 before restocking it. |
Wal-Mart deserves their high admiration level because they do what they say. They give America a place to buy at low prices in stores where employees seem happy to be there and willing to assist customers when questions are asked. |
Wal-Mart has had a much stronger gift-card season than last year, so that might explain why their (December) sales figure is not as good. |
What's happens is retailers become known for certain things. You want to be known for some product category. You want to be known for a return policy. |
When clothing styles went flat for a few years, people no longer had a reason to shop at department stores. |
With nothing hot to buy in decorations this Christmas, many stores started selling two weeks earlier than ever before, beginning in mid-September. Many stores skipped Thanksgiving altogether and went from Halloween to Christmas. |
With their low margins, they can't afford to have unprofitable stores. It could destroy the profitability of the chain. |