Burt Flickinger
Burt Flickinger
higher paying prices retailers seeing supply therefore
Between warehousing, utilities and transportation costs, retailers have been paying unprecedented premiums for their supply chain. Therefore shoppers will be seeing substantially higher prices by year's end.
lead planning retail tightly time
Retail planning has a very long lead time and it's tightly controlled,
discount largest retail retailers squeezed
Retailers are really getting squeezed especially in the largest retail sector, which is the supermarket sector. In the discount sector, Sears and Kmart would be at significant risk.
adds anywhere came centers cents diesel distances energy greater major mile mistakes prices putting retailers stable stayed
Most retailers made major mistakes of putting their distribution centers at greater distances from each other when energy prices came down and stayed stable in the 80s and 90s . Retailers are long-hauling freight anywhere from 300 to 700 miles. With 50 cents a mile for a 20-ton diesel freight truck, it adds up.
amount biggest bringing money payment potential processing save
The biggest implication of Wal-Mart bringing payment processing in-house is the potential for it to save an unprecedented amount of money in yearly fees.
matter seem stimulate stores
No matter what the stores do, they still seem to not be able to stimulate spending.
best last minute stores until waiting year
Shoppers are outsmarting the stores even more this year and waiting until the last minute to get the best deals,
company former outsiders rather voice
Now, rather than former outsiders having a big voice in the company, it will become more of a meritocracy.
decline dramatic either less low percent relationship sales weather
About 95 percent of the time, weather is an unrealistic excuse, ... Less than 5 percent of the time, there's either a very low or no relationship at all between weather and a dramatic decline in sales and profits.
great strategic
It's a superb strategic acquisition for Bon-Ton and a great disposition for Saks,
people sad work
It's a sad day, with more than 100 people out of work during the holidays.
challenge key presents states
It presents a challenge to Wal-Mart, especially in key battleground states like California,
baby busy critical easily food fully parents staff stock stores time
For busy parents who stock up on baby food and other items, if they can't easily find it in Wal-Mart, they don't have time to go back. They'll just go to the competition. It's critical for Wal-Mart stores to be fully stocked and have experienced staff on weekends.
capitalize fads food next profitable
Food manufacturers will capitalize on fads as long as they're around and its profitable for them. When it's over, it's on to the next thing.