Skip navigation
MOST POPULAR RELATED TAGS
  • TOPICS
  • SECTORS
  • COMPANIES


Current DateTime: 03:35:34 10 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 23279679
Expiration DateTime: 7/10/2009 3:36:39 AM

ABOUT THIS BLOG

Get RSS Feed

It's a make-it or break it time for retailers. The holiday selling season is always a critical time for retailers, but this year this may be even more true. With several retailers already falling victim to a drop in consumer spending, and filing for bankruptcy, retailers will be navigating through some tricky waters. Consumers are strapped for cash due to high energy and food prices, and unemployment is rising. The recent credit crunch has made it more challenging for retailers and consumers to borrow.

This blog will look at the winners and losers in the retail space. Who has the right strategy to capture consumer dollars? It also will look for trends in consumer spending and how that will impact the economy.
 
Text Size
Oct.26
9:52 AM ET
Friday, 26 Oct 2007
Retailers: 'Must Haves' Missing From Stores

Costco
Costco

I feel a bit like I'm on a news version of some struggling teen pop singer tour (don't they always include malls?) Lately I have been spending a lot of time in stores. Yesterday it was Costco [COST  Loading...      ()   ] in Clifton, NJ. In the past month work has sent me to: a New York City Best Buy [BBY  Loading...      ()   ], a Miami-area Wal-Mart [WMT  Loading...      ()   ] , two malls in New Jersey and one on Long Island. That's just a few.

Everywhere I go people are well-aware of all of the reasons that they shouldn't be shopping; their houses are worth less, oil and gas are expensive, credit is less available, and the financial markets are in upheaval (though currently trading around record highs.) Still those things won't keep most people from celebrating the holidays in-style. Gifts will still be bought. Stockings will still be stuffed. Hanukkah gifts will still be purchased. Retailers just may not see the ebullient spending that they'd gotten used to over the past few years.

As we've been telling you, retailers aren't expecting to hit their original sales goals for the holiday-centered fourth quarter. May of them are lowering expectations so that Wall Street doesn't overreact when those weaker results are reported in January.

What can stores do? Give shoppers a reason to be buyers. Make them want to spend their dollars or at least feel less-guilty or able to purchase because of the sticker price. Promotions and markdown signs are going to be everywhere this season.

What I'd like to see though is innovation. Electronics are big sellers in part because there is always some gadget or game hitting the markets these days. Apparel though needs newness and excitement. The fashion cycle may be starting to change in magazines and on runways but those slight shifts aren't trickling down to the malls that much.

Where's the next Crocs or lycra-heavy skinny jeans trend? Retailers need 'must haves' now more than ever.

Questions? Comments?

© 2009 CNBC, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Tools:
PrintEmailAdd This share icon
Next Post


Current DateTime: 02:07:26 10 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29778428

Current DateTime: 01:04:09 10 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779196

Current DateTime: 02:18:56 10 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779199

Current DateTime: 01:05:34 10 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779198
CNBCCNBC
About CNBC  |  Site Map  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Video Reprints  |  Advertise  |  Help  |  Contact
Partners: AOL Money  |  BloggingStocks.com
CNBC is a Division of NBC Universal
  Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis

© 2009 CNBC, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
Thomson ReutersThomson Reuters