Specialty beauty retailer Sephora (2,300 stores worldwide) seems to be a bit ahead of the curve when it comes to brick and mortar retail. As this article describes, they are using technology to give control to the consumer and create a “fun” experience for them. They are reducing the role of the sales person and […]
“You Just Have to Get Traffic” Read More »
At this point, it’s common knowledge that diminishing mall traffic is leading retailers to close stores and/or renegotiate leases with landlords. There are also some store openings going on as retailers, hopefully, find locations and configurations better suited to the fast changing brick and mortar and e-commerce world. But relationships between retailers and landlords are
Retailers and Landlords. Can’t Live With Each Other, Can’t Live Without Read More »
The conference calls get shorter and shorter as Wall Street and its analysts decide the retail sector just isn’t worth their attention. I don’t and won’t invest in anything I write about but damn, this feels like one piece of putting in a bottom in the retail sector. Maybe it will take the recession to
More Retail Perspective; Zumiez’s Quarterly Report Read More »
When I report on a public company’s results, it’s always important to review the numbers. But the more I do that the more I realize my focus needs to be on how companies are trying to transition to the new retail environment in circumstances of high uncertainty. That is, they must transition to something they
A Discussion of Retail Prompted by Deckers’ 10-K Read More »
These quarterly reports from retailers are getting kind of repetitive. It’s not just Tilly’s; they are all controlling inventory, slowing store openings (or closing stores), negotiating with landlords, trying to reduce operating expenses, doing omnichannel things and being generally grateful for anything that improves traffic and generates some incremental sales. Tilly’s conference call printed out
More of the Same: Tilly’s April 29th Quarter Read More »
To my mind, Amazon’s biggest strategic advantage is that they started without brick and mortar retail. The business was built for ecommerce and then, using the systems and data they’ve developed, they could look at brick and mortar making sure to have the right number of stores in the right places configured in the right
What Keeps Jeff Bezos Up at Night- And Why What He’s Doing Should Keep You Up. Read More »
Finally, some positive movement in the trade show space. I’ve hung back on writing about this for a few days but SIA President Nick Sargent sent out an email to all SIA members announcing and describing the deal, which is subject to approval by SIA’s premium members. The email from Nick was labeled “CONFIDENTIAL: DO NOT
Some Positive Trade Show News; Emerald Exhibitions to Acquire the SIA Show Read More »
Well, there you have it. At some level, it is that simple. But let me complete CFO Scott Roe’s comment in the conference call. “…we are sharply focused on fundamentals and willing to sacrifice a little growth in the near term for quality. Our efforts are clearly paying off in the gross margin line. And
“Sacrifice a Little Growth…for Quality.” VF’s March 31st Quarter Read More »
This morning, the Seattle Times featured this article telling us that REI wage hikes for store employee announced last summer will be costing the company $24 to $25 million. The company’s net income for its last complete year was $38.3 million. Meanwhile, my oldest son sent me this article from Investor’s Business Daily, telling us
Retail, Technology, Consolidation, and Unintended Consequences Read More »
People don’t like people who make them uncomfortable. And when I do it, like now, I’m pretty sure it makes it less likely I get calls for consulting. But I’m all about trying to help you to run your businesses better and think you need the bad news as well as the good. Probably you
Projected Retail Closings and Job losses for the Year Read More »