Steve Kernkraut
Steve Kernkraut
filled hard heat people polar sell stores wearing
Most stores are filled with polar fleece and sweaters, but in 85-degree heat when people are wearing shorts, it's hard to sell those items.
april break company ground march next pragmatic stage strengths view weaknesses year
I think it was a realistic, pragmatic view of what the strengths and weaknesses of the company are. He didn't break new ground with the initiatives, but directionally I think he set the stage for change, and I think by March or April of next year we'll see a change.
good move
I think this is a good move, the right move to make.
concerned concerning consumer fall fashion gas general rising somewhat totally
I think they made a lot of fashion changes, but there's been a general malaise in women's fashion apparel. What's somewhat concerning here is that Nordstrom has transitioned totally to fall earlier. Is their fashion not on target, or is the consumer really concerned about the rising gas prices?
miraculous second
I think they're only in the first or second inning of a turnaround. They've done a miraculous job, but I think there's much more to come.
asian bring buy cost flu goods great happening positive retail retailers sector states united
I think the retail sector is a great sector to buy because they don't have any of these Asian flu syndrome. I mean, all the things that are happening in Asia right now are positive to retailers because a lot of these retailers -- their cost will go down and they'll be able to bring goods into the United States at a lower...cost basis.
apparel department focused seeing specialty stores strength
I think you're seeing strength in the department stores, but more so than just the department stores, the specialty apparel stores that have a more focused brand.
caused companies great hear investors issue negative players signal tech worries
We're in a marketplace where any kind of negative signal worries people. The same way some of the tech companies caused a ripple, I think investors hear Lowe's issue a warning, hear what's going on with one of the great players in the sector, and they get nervous.
became business expectation
The expectation is that it's going to be a very disappointing season. Business never materialized, and when it did, it was right around Christmas. It was too little, too late, and I think it became way too promotional.
backlash certainly generally higher negative numbers oil outlook overall pockets september strength
The September numbers were generally on track, there were pockets of strength and there were some weaknesses. The numbers overall were not horrendous, but overall certainly the outlook could have more of a negative backlash from the higher oil prices.
bras business companies create internet lingerie margins narrow profitable underwear
Any business they do on the Internet is going to be very profitable for them. They have the infrastructure. They don't have to create it. And additionally, the profit margins on their bras and underwear and lingerie are spectacular, while the other e-commerce companies have very narrow margins.
america consumer hard pocket spending
The consumer in America is just spending and they're spending with abandon. It's very hard to find a pocket . . . where the consumer is not spending.
great grow hear indoors women
I really want to hear him say how he's going to energize Sears. I want to hear what he's going to do differently. I want to hear him say how aggressively he's going to grow Great Indoors and how he's going to get women to come into the store.
business optimistic uplift
I'm optimistic that there has been some uplift to business trends.