Howard Davidowitz
Howard Davidowitz
additional cards compared dollar gift impact increase january last less panacea retailers sales
Gift cards are not the panacea because the year-over-year increase is anemic. Because the markdowns in January will be more than last year, retailers will see less dollar impact of additional sales from gift cards compared to last year.
difference kept last promotions retailers tight year
One big difference was that last year retailers kept promotions under tight control. Things were more panicky this year.
ball company easy few gigantic last money performance pot smaller time turn
The performance of the company over the last few years has been very erratic. It's also a smaller player. It was time for Milstein to take it easy and make a gigantic pot of money and turn the ball over to someone else.
call five gigantic grow growth last sales
Wal-Mart over the last five years has been able to grow its same-store sales at 6 to 7 percent. Now that growth has dwindled to 2 or 3 percent. I call this a gigantic change.
last lost
Over the last year, they lost $60 million,
consumer costs debt energy exploding higher interest last month rolls spite
I think the real story last month was that in spite of higher interest rates, exploding energy costs and debt levels, the American consumer rolls on.
execution problem
The problem at Linens 'n Things is execution.
available billion companies equity private
The private equity companies have never had this much money. They have $125 billion available for acquisitions.
fickle game impress money numbers potential public rule stays
The rule of the game is go public for the money when you have the numbers to impress potential investors. Retail, and especially apparel, is so fickle that nothing stays the same forever.
downside stock
The stock has a lot of downside and very little upside.
associated costs gigantic given process share warehouse
There would have been gigantic costs associated with the unbundling process given that the different units share warehouse and distribution centers,
businesses buyers companies effect factories fewer gotten led less meetings products rolling sars stopped visits
SARS has not stopped factories from rolling out products in China, ... The only effect it's had on U.S. businesses is that it has led to fewer visits from buyers to the region. So there have been less face-to-face meetings between buyers and suppliers, but companies have gotten around that by teleconferencing.
halloween holidays less
Other holidays have become less important. Halloween is the exception. It has become more important.
hang increasing players profile risk taking weakest
Bon-Ton is one of the weakest players in a very weak sector. It is increasing its risk profile tremendously by taking on debt. How does this all hang together?