Burt Flickinger
Burt Flickinger
discount largest retail retailers squeezed
Retailers are really getting squeezed especially in the largest retail sector, which is the supermarket sector. In the discount sector, Sears and Kmart would be at significant risk.
brilliant executive experience extensive
He's a brilliant person, but did not have extensive executive experience
billion black christmas critical dollars push sales start starting
It is critical for Wal-Mart to start doing a billion dollars a day in sales starting on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, which is the big 30-day push for Christmas and year-end sales.
conscience consumers shifting
Consumers increasingly have a conscience and are increasingly shifting to competitors.
department five nearly softness store time
For the first time in nearly five years, there is a real softness in the upper-tier department store sector.
decline dramatic either less low percent relationship sales weather
About 95 percent of the time, weather is an unrealistic excuse, ... Less than 5 percent of the time, there's either a very low or no relationship at all between weather and a dramatic decline in sales and profits.
eating fat gives immediate sugar tasty
Americans are work-stressed, time-stressed, and they're eating out more. Sugar and fat is tasty and it gives immediate gratification.
capitalize fads food next profitable
Food manufacturers will capitalize on fads as long as they're around and its profitable for them. When it's over, it's on to the next thing.
matter seem stimulate stores
No matter what the stores do, they still seem to not be able to stimulate spending.
company free gets looks worse
The company is in so much of a free fall. It looks like it's going to get worse before it gets better.
adds anywhere came centers cents diesel distances energy greater major mile mistakes prices putting retailers stable stayed
Most retailers made major mistakes of putting their distribution centers at greater distances from each other when energy prices came down and stayed stable in the 80s and 90s . Retailers are long-hauling freight anywhere from 300 to 700 miles. With 50 cents a mile for a 20-ton diesel freight truck, it adds up.
department year
It was a really disappointing year for department stores, particularly those in New York.
higher paying prices retailers seeing supply therefore
Between warehousing, utilities and transportation costs, retailers have been paying unprecedented premiums for their supply chain. Therefore shoppers will be seeing substantially higher prices by year's end.
apparel bad barometer consumers last seeing wearing winter wore year
Consumers are wearing this year what they wore last year. We're already seeing a slowdown in apparel and accessories and that's a pretty bad barometer going into the winter season.