Most retailers were more aggressive on the promotional front this year than last year, as they tried to drive traffic and compete with the likes of Best Buy and Wal-Mart. |
Next month is the first time the company marks the anniversary of positive sales comparisons. From here on, the comparisons get increasingly difficult. |
On average, comparable sales grew 5.8 percent just in those three months compared to an average of 2.6 percent in the last six months of 2004, ... The first-half of the year will be a big challenge. |
On the economic front, there haven't been significant improvements in jobs and wage growth, and the comparable sales comparisons are only getting tougher, ... It sounds reasonable to expect big discounts this year. The macro factors would suggest it. |
On the economic front, there haven't been significant improvements in jobs and wage growth, and the comparable sales comparisons are only getting tougher. It sounds reasonable to expect big discounts this year. The macro factors would suggest it. |
One obvious explanation (for the weakness) is that investors are aware that Best Buy faces much tougher sales comparisons, particularly in the second half of the year. Looking at the numbers, second-quarter sales were up 7.8 percent, third-quarter sales rose 5.8 percent. |
Part of the story is that retailers did have very easy comparisons from a year ago. But I'm still very impressed with the strong sales trends. |
Pier 1 hasn't posted a comparable sales increase since March last year. The retailer is struggling badly with their merchandising and I don't think their marketing is compelling either. |
Profits are on the rebound but is it sustainable? Given the extent of the previous bubble in tech, the recovery should be slower. There's a whiff of a pickup in business spending but not enough to hang your hat on just yet. |
Retailers are facing slightly more difficult year-over-year [sales] comparisons [in February] and the weather is unlikely to be as cooperative over the next two months as it was in January. |
Retailers last month were up against some stiff comparisons from a year ago. But it looks like consumers continued to take advantage of post-holiday bargains as well as redeem the gift cards received during the holidays. |
Retailers racked up a terrific month, particularly relative to expectations. |
Sales of men's apparel has been lagging for some time. Men usually don't shop as frequently as women. When they do, there's only so much of casual clothes men really need. |
Sales really carried through at the end of the season, particularly for the mall-based stores. Some of the strength probably came from retailers really aggressively marketing and being really promotional. |
Same-store sales in September 2002 jumped 37 percent. Sales in October last year were up 23 percent, 15 percent in November. [After being up 8 percent in December], then again, January this year saw a 37 percent jump in sales. |