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How can Department Stores affect the beginnings of a turnaround? Capture the young consumer!

April 21, 2008

Analysis of:Department Stores focus on Style | www.courierpostonline.com

In light of 2007's and 1Q in 2008's dismal outlook in department stores, many stores including JC Penney's, Macy's(NYS:), Kohl's and others need to rejuvenate, think out of the box, if it wants to capture the younger consumer who is more recession proof, than their parents.  Granted, food, gas and education costs loom large as a deterrent, but parents for the most part spend for their kids first, regardless of demographic or income.  Specialty retailers such as Aeropostale, H & M, Buckle, Guess, and some others have captured the 12-20 year old share of wallet, by delivering newness weekly, taking timely markdowns, and making the shopping experience in their stores fun and captivating.  Marketing store names as brands is powerful, but less effective in tough times. Many regional stores such as Bon-Ton(NMS:BONT), Dillards, Belks, Gothchalk's, etc. appear lost to the Y-gen. Clearly they do not want to shop in their mom's store, and their young intentioned mom's are moving away as well.

How can Department Stores affect the beginnings of a turnaround? Capture the young consumer!

April 15, 2008

Analysis of:Sector Snap: Department Stores | www.chron.com

In light of 2007's and 1Q in 2008's dismal outlook in department stores, many stores including JC Penney's, Macy's, Kohl's and others need to rejuvenate, think out of the box, if it wants to capture the younger consumer who is more recession proof, than their parents.  Granted, the price of food, gas and education looms large as a deterrent. However parents for the most part spend for their kids first, regardless of demographic or income.  Specialty retailers such as Aeropostale, H & M, Buckle, Guess, and some others have captured the 13-18 year old share of wallet, by delivering newness weekly, taking timely markdowns, and making the shopping experience in their stores fun and captivating.  Marketing store names as brands in this climate is old fashioned and tired and many regional stores such as Bon-Ton, Dillards, Belks, Gothchalk's and other's appear lost to the Y-gen. Clearly they do not want to shop in their mom's store, and their young intentioned mom's are moving away as well.

Christmas, a time for joy, celebration and the hope of prosperity for retailers! Then why do retailers, prior to Christmas, promote with more coupons, more discounts, and lowest prices, hoping that this will bring more business, when in fact it brings less.

December 21, 2007

Analysis of:Retail Throws a Hail Mary | www.thestreet.com

What happened to the good old days, when the right gift at the right price was important.  The notion that couponing. and additional discounts will attract more customers to buy more has historically failed, and ultimately the retailer is left with undesirable goods and hence, more markdowns, lower margins and overstocked positions.  

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