The key for them is the marketing of a new and totally different identity from Wal-Mart or Target or anybody else, ... They have to create their own distinctive identity. The kind that will make you and me wake up in the morning and say, 'I need a new pair of pajamas -- I think I'll go to Kmart.' |
The magnitude of the demand tells the retailer how to act and what to do, ... If a product is hot, clearly there's not going to be a markdown. But if demand suddenly slackens and there's still a lot of merchandise left in the store on that particular day, they will mark it down. |
The magnitude of the demand tells the retailer how to act and what to do. If a product is hot, clearly there's not going to be a markdown. But if demand suddenly slackens and there's still a lot of merchandise left in the store on that particular day, they will mark it down. |
The May contribution is going to be very substantial because of the in-house brands, displays, and ambience of the stores. |
The name Burlington Coat Factory is a misnomer because they carry a full line of fashion apparel, including coats in the winter. It's basically an off-price operation. You get good value there, very good value. |
The numbers today are nothing other than big generators of yawns. |
The only way to grow in the retail business is to add yet another 100 stores, another 600 stores. Then someone else will see that you are successful. And that other fellow will do the same. And for a while it is fine, until suddenly there are more stores than the community needs. |
The outlook is for a muted third quarter, and also fourth quarter. It's not getting any worse in our opinion. We believe that consumer spending has essentially bottomed out. That does not mean consumers are ready to go on a spending spree or a buying binge. Things are likely to remain at their current level. |
The potential for Web sales is tremendous and it carries the potential of completely altering and upsetting over the next few years all channels of retail selling. |
The problem with Target is a problem facing every retailer. The price of gas is coming down, but home heating oil is going to be a major problem, ... A lot of consumers are worried. |
The rest of the industry can take comfort from Wal-Mart's projections, |
The rest of the industry can take comfort from Wal-Mart's projections. |
The sales clear evidence of modest consumer spending slow down. We expect a decent holiday sales season, but an unspectacular one. The last three have been spectacular, particularly the last one. |
The thing that drives retail sales most and best is job availability and the ease of obtaining new jobs. Both of these factors are absent at the present time. It may not be until the end of the year that we see job growth. |
The weather was a factor and the effects of higher gasoline prices are finally catching up with retailers at the registers. Beyond that, I think we're likely to see softness for the next two to three months. |