Posted on 04/15/2017 4:03:12 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
From rural strip-malls to Manhattan’s avenues, it has been a disastrous two years for retail.
There have been nine retail bankruptcies in 2017—as many as all of 2016. J.C. Penney, RadioShack, Macy’s, and Sears have each announced more than 100 store closures. Sports Authority has liquidated, and Payless has filed for bankruptcy. Last week, several apparel companies’ stocks hit new multi-year lows, including Lululemon, Urban Outfitters, and American Eagle, and Ralph Lauren announced that it is closing its flagship Polo store on Fifth Avenue, one of several brands to abandon that iconic thoroughfare.
A deep recession might explain an extinction-level event for large retailers. But GDP has been growing for eight straight years, gas prices are low, unemployment is under 5 percent, and the last 18 months have been quietly excellent years for wage growth, particularly for middle- and lower-income Americans.
So, what the heck is going on? The reality is that overall retail spending continues to grow steadily, if a little meagerly. But several trends—including the rise of e-commerce, the over-supply of malls, and the surprising effects of a restaurant renaissance—have conspired to change the face of American shopping....
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
These stores were on the way out...and this is just bankruptcy...which means they're likely going to scr** a lot of people.
Sears’ latest commercial has two brides marrying each other. They’ve lost my business.
I’d rather buy online. Great selection and delivered to my door in one or two days.
I can always find my size and color selection online too.
The malls are overrun with smartphone-carrying street savages who buy sneakers and hip hop, displacing the people who used to buy normal people clothes, electronics and books, and have now fled to Amazon.
when half the country can’t come up with $400 in emergency, they won’t be spending at the mall unless it is on credit - which after 2008, a lot of people are scared to do.
Lunatic leftists at the Atlantic. Buy a clue idiots!
I work PT for UPS. Volume is way up in the last 1.5 years. My hours have increased 35%. Amazon going through sort, way up.
Local mall. 3 of 4 anchor stores have closed since then. It is a ghost town. Target remains. Sears, Macy’s and JC Penny gone.
I posted the stuff below the other day and it received good feedback. Many of today’s comments are spot on about Amazon and unfriendly malls.
Obambi and his fellow travelers put many items into Obambicare in order to hinder economic development. They all believe that America is too rich (except for the rich libs). One of the main provisions was that 30 hours a week is full-time work. Many, many businesses immediately cut everyone to just 29 hours a week, thus the businesses did not have to provide health insurance. Another main provision was any business with 50 or more employees HAD to provide health insurance. So, many businesses cut total number of people, while others made sure not to expand to 50. Instead of the unbridled growth that usually occurs after a recession, the recession never really ended, they just cooked the books to appear there was ‘some economic growth.
Creepozoids all.
Except shopping for women’s jeans. The pair we got were too long. We got two items in the package, but there was no receipt and no return label. So I had to print the original “shipped” label from email, and send the jeans back to their fulfillment center in TX.
Women’s sizes are notoriously inconsistent, and basically so crappy anyway, that it makes it very difficult to shop online for their clothes.
I rarely use on-line shopping superstores like Amazon. If I can’t find it in the store, such as Wal-mart, Pennys, Sears. Lowes, etc., I will go to their Web store to search for it and order it to be delivered to the local store. With clothes it is essential as I can make sure the size, fit, colors, etc. are correct and what I ordered.
Also, I pay with cash rather than credit or debit. I see the cashless society as one of the greatest threats from the NWO. Currently, I pay less than a fourth of all purchases or bills with a credit card and never use a debit card. I try to use cash and checks to ensure that vendors don’t move to the cashless society.
I orderf off Walmart toccasionally and pick up at the store. I never actually go in the store to shop. Walmart is starting a new discount for store pick ups. They’ll have over a million items that they’ll discount when you order online and have them shipped to the store.
I just want the stuff, do not want or need a store or “shopping experience”.
Millenials don’t buy clothes other than pajamas. The market is saturated. People are realizing they don’t need to buy stuff to feel better. A whole bunch of reasons.
Walmart has free ship to store. I use it regularly, no minimum.
I go to the mall and it is only old people walking for exercise.”
Only time I go to one of our many local malls is every other month to get my hair cut and I schedule my weekday appointment at 9 a.m. Grandson wanted me to take him to the Game Stop there one night last week so I agreed. We were the only Caucasians anywhere. Lots and lots of Black teenagers just hanging out and many burqa clad muslim women shopping with their husband and children. Never expected to experience this in the U.S. let alone in the Houston suburbs. Frightening to someone my age.
Last time we were in Wal-Mart our cashiers were Egyptian Coptic Christian ladies who were happy as clams to be here. I live in a Dallas suburb.
Online hit the tipping point.
Honestly - I go to Walmart in nearby Black neighborhood. Everyone is respectful,mew joke talk about football etc
I avoid the Walmart in Hillbilly area - everyone seems pissed off
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