So I stopped by a shopping mall on Monday, Jan 2nd. Something I NEVER do as I think that malls are for consumers and not for producers, but my interest was piqued due to the fact of so many cars in the parking lot.
I ambled through a half dozen stores and noticed a few that seemed to command most of the business, mainly because of 50% off sales throughout.
One or two were packed, and then I wandered into Sears, and I literally thought I had meandered into a cemetery. Customers were non existent, and as I roamed around all I could think of was the amount of cash they were burning through from the overhead just to keep the lights and heat on, let alone labor, inventory etc.
It had been a long time since I had gone through a Sears store. I remember as a kid, that's where everyone went to buy their appliances (Kenmore), batteries (Diehard) or their tools (Craftsman). It was THE PLACE, a destination all of its own. I remember back then marveling at all the products they carried; and on my recent visit marveling at the lack of customers. Today they announced the sale of Craftsman Tools to Black & Decker for 900 million, buying them a bit more time before their most likely demise.
They have closed 2000 stores in the past decade.
2000
Macys has just announced closing 68 stores and laying off 10,000.
Times are a changing' and even though I am all for online sales having multiple ecommerce websites myself, I am concerned about our loss of some of these iconic B&M stores, and the jobs they had created. It is not just the store employees but ancillary support workers for these companies.
Online marketplaces are great for certain types of shopping but there is nothing like a "touchy-feely" of handling merchandise prior to buying, be it clothes, appliances or shoes....
I just hope we don't lose something we may never again retrieve, i.e. our steel manufacturing, auto parts, electronics, clothing, etc.
Since 2001 we have lost 42,400 factories in this country, with another 90,000 on the verge of bankruptcy
The Plight of American Manufacturing
There are still tremendous possibilities for creating products right here in our back yard. I know because I have done it. But it isn't just about the creation of products that excites me, but the creation of jobs also...
Sometimes we are too close to the forest to see the trees...
There is a bigger picture out there
I have found that I get almost as much satisfaction creating a job for someone as I do creating another business. Because I know it is creating more wealth in the long run.
Plus I like the CONTROL of planting my garden in my own back yard.
There is nothing like looking out my back window and watching it grow...
Sears Buys Time With Craftsman Brand Sale, Store Closures
I ambled through a half dozen stores and noticed a few that seemed to command most of the business, mainly because of 50% off sales throughout.
One or two were packed, and then I wandered into Sears, and I literally thought I had meandered into a cemetery. Customers were non existent, and as I roamed around all I could think of was the amount of cash they were burning through from the overhead just to keep the lights and heat on, let alone labor, inventory etc.
It had been a long time since I had gone through a Sears store. I remember as a kid, that's where everyone went to buy their appliances (Kenmore), batteries (Diehard) or their tools (Craftsman). It was THE PLACE, a destination all of its own. I remember back then marveling at all the products they carried; and on my recent visit marveling at the lack of customers. Today they announced the sale of Craftsman Tools to Black & Decker for 900 million, buying them a bit more time before their most likely demise.
They have closed 2000 stores in the past decade.
2000
Macys has just announced closing 68 stores and laying off 10,000.
Times are a changing' and even though I am all for online sales having multiple ecommerce websites myself, I am concerned about our loss of some of these iconic B&M stores, and the jobs they had created. It is not just the store employees but ancillary support workers for these companies.
Online marketplaces are great for certain types of shopping but there is nothing like a "touchy-feely" of handling merchandise prior to buying, be it clothes, appliances or shoes....
I just hope we don't lose something we may never again retrieve, i.e. our steel manufacturing, auto parts, electronics, clothing, etc.
Since 2001 we have lost 42,400 factories in this country, with another 90,000 on the verge of bankruptcy
The Plight of American Manufacturing
There are still tremendous possibilities for creating products right here in our back yard. I know because I have done it. But it isn't just about the creation of products that excites me, but the creation of jobs also...
Sometimes we are too close to the forest to see the trees...
There is a bigger picture out there
I have found that I get almost as much satisfaction creating a job for someone as I do creating another business. Because I know it is creating more wealth in the long run.
Plus I like the CONTROL of planting my garden in my own back yard.
There is nothing like looking out my back window and watching it grow...
Sears Buys Time With Craftsman Brand Sale, Store Closures
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