Howard Davidowitz
Howard Davidowitz
bottom clothing consumers items line next paying
At the end of the day, if the quotas stick, the bottom line is that consumers will be paying more for some clothing items by next year.
difference kept last promotions retailers tight year
One big difference was that last year retailers kept promotions under tight control. Things were more panicky this year.
business company credit guess sell several smoke stores trying
The company has remodeled its stores several times and is also trying to sell its credit business . But when the smoke clears, it's anyone's guess as to how many more years Sears can go on like this.
driver growth next
There's a lot of speculation about the next growth driver for the company,
bills business businesses close fruit guy next pay selling small street year
You see the guy out on the street selling coffee, donuts, fruit - his business is destroyed. There are a lot of small businesses that will close or that won't be able to pay their bills next year because of the strike.
lost
There's no way to make up for the lost business. It's gone.
brand built single survive
The brand as we know it is dead. Any brand that's built exclusively around a single personality can't survive something like this.
direct money print radio simply terrific
I think this is terrific for consumers, ... Telemarketers will simply have to reallocate money to more direct mail, television, radio and print advertising.
buyers cheap deals money numbers potential work
Most of these deals work because of cheap money. Money is getting more expensive. The potential buyers will be more cautious. They are reworking their numbers to see if they can get a return.
casual chicago formal gotten houston york
New York has gotten more casual, Chicago has gotten more casual but Houston is still kind of formal when it comes to socializing.
dead gotten prior
I think she's dead in the water. Prior to the case, she could have gotten anybody, Target, J.C. Penney's, Kohl's, ... I think any one of them would have wanted her (if) she replaces Kmart. But where are you going to put the product?
nation picture remain
The big picture is that we're a debtor nation but remain the most profligate spenders,
strike transit worse
The transit strike is devastating for retail. It couldn't have come at a worse time, and we don't know how long it's going to go on.
fickle game impress money numbers potential public rule stays
The rule of the game is go public for the money when you have the numbers to impress potential investors. Retail, and especially apparel, is so fickle that nothing stays the same forever.