– RETAIL DEATH RATTLE GROWS LOUDER (The Burning Platform, May 25, 2014):
The definition of death rattle is a sound often produced by someone who is near death when fluids such as saliva and bronchial secretions accumulate in the throat and upper chest. The person can’t swallow and emits a deepening wheezing sound as they gasp for breath. This can go on for two or three days before death relieves them of their misery. The American retail industry is emitting an unmistakable wheezing sound as a long slow painful death approaches.
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Death Rattle Grows Louder:
Wal-Mart Profit Plunges By $220 Million as US Store Traffic Declines by 1.4%: Breaks my heart, hope they collapse.
Target Profit Plunges by $80 Million, 16% Lower Than 2013, as Store Traffic Declines by 2.3%: They used to offer good prices, but no longer. They spend a fortune putting themselves into new and upper end shopping malls, and the market for Target isn’t there. It is a place to find bargain priced cleaning products and cat food; not a place to buy upper end clothes or cologne…..they are losing sight of their market with their greed. As a result, they will continue to lose buyers.
People shop with caution. They plan the shopping trip to use minimum gas and time…….they are not interested in running around, the day of cheap gas is gone forever. Also, the shopping malls where Target is now placing itself are not one stop shopping……part of Target’s original appeal.
Sears Loses $358 Million in First Quarter as Comparable Store Sales at Sears Plunge by 7.8% and Sales at Kmart Plunge by 5.1%
Sears has done nothing to change or upgrade in 40 years, and the only thing that has gotten modern is awful delivery service…….you can’t get it. So, if you don’t have a truck to buy a washer/dryer, etc…….forget it.
Sears needs to modernize, perhaps provide some customer service so lacking in all other stores.
JC Penney Thrilled With Loss of Only $358 Million For the Quarter
JC Penney is just like Sears, it has done nothing to upgrade in 40 years. They also had a wonderful catalog service that no longer exists……..and everyone loved it. It was pre-Internet, people bought through the mail, and were very happy with the products.
Kohl’s Operating Income Plunges by 17% as Comparable Sales Decline by 3.4%
Cannot say, am not familiar with the store, am told it was a replacement for Mervyns.
Costco Profit Declines by $84 Million as Comp Store Sales Only Increase by 2%…….as a long time Costco Shopper, I can tell you, their prices and products are focused on the higher end shopper. If their profits are going down, that tells me something is happening to their market share…….affluent people are not as plentiful as before.
Staples Profit Plunges by 44% as Sales Collapse and Closing Hundreds of Stores…..since it provides supplies for offices, and stores and offices are closing as more people go broke……..it tells it’s own story.
Gap Income Drops 22% as Same Store Sales Fall
Perhaps teen market isn’t as affluent as it used to be……
American Eagle Profits Tumble 86%, Will Close 150 Stores…..know nothing about them.
Aeropostale Losses $77 Million as Sales Collapse by 12%….know nothing about them, either.
Best Buy Sales Decline by $300 Million as Margins Decline and Comparable Store Sales Decline by 1.3%
Fits with the closing of stores and shops.
Macy’s Profit Flat as Comparable Store Sales decline by 1.4%….as one who used to love their store, the quality of their products, as well as selection has dropped through the floor…..it is an awful store now, and it used to be fantastic.
Dollar General Profit Plummets by 40% as Comp Store Sales Decline by 3.8%: I don’t know much about Dollar stores, or Comp Store………cannot comment.
Urban Outfitters Earnings Collapse by 20% as Sales Stagnate……cannot comment, I don’t know enough about them.
McDonalds Earnings Fall by $66 Million as US Comp Sales Fall by 1.7%: As one who never has eaten there, all I can do is cheer. I hope everyone stops eating their trash.
Darden Profit Collapses by 30% as Same Restaurant Sales Plunge by 5.6% and Company Selling Red Lobster: I imagine the safety of fish might affect Red Lobster, know nothing about Darden.
TJX Misses Earnings Expectations as Sales & Earnings Flat…….they promise great prices for great products, and no longer give either. I used to really like that store, but no longer.
Dick’s Misses Earnings Expectations as Golf Store Sales Plummet: Don’t know about Dicks, but know that Golf is an expensive sport……
Home Depot Misses Earnings Expectations as Customer Traffic Only Rises by 2.2%……home ownership has fallen, foreclosures are rising along with rising interest rates. No surprise.
This person had to do his own research to get these numbers.