Steve Kernkraut
Steve Kernkraut
apparel department focused seeing specialty stores strength
I think you're seeing strength in the department stores, but more so than just the department stores, the specialty apparel stores that have a more focused brand.
bras business companies create internet lingerie margins narrow profitable underwear
Any business they do on the Internet is going to be very profitable for them. They have the infrastructure. They don't have to create it. And additionally, the profit margins on their bras and underwear and lingerie are spectacular, while the other e-commerce companies have very narrow margins.
backlash certainly generally higher negative numbers oil outlook overall pockets september strength
The September numbers were generally on track, there were pockets of strength and there were some weaknesses. The numbers overall were not horrendous, but overall certainly the outlook could have more of a negative backlash from the higher oil prices.
april break company ground march next pragmatic stage strengths view weaknesses year
I think it was a realistic, pragmatic view of what the strengths and weaknesses of the company are. He didn't break new ground with the initiatives, but directionally I think he set the stage for change, and I think by March or April of next year we'll see a change.
miraculous second
I think they're only in the first or second inning of a turnaround. They've done a miraculous job, but I think there's much more to come.
alan assessment best business ceo ceos charge coming customer emotional fair given internet involved likes position proven taken turned winner
Alan is a proven winner in every business he's been involved in. He's turned around Sears credit, he's taken charge of their Internet business and given it life, and he's been able to reorganize their home-services business. Probably the best part about him is he's coming into his position as CEO and he understands how CEOs work, but he doesn't have the emotional bias. He can make a kind of fair assessment about what the customer likes and what he doesn't.
christmas companies hard messy others shape strong thanksgiving
It's going to shape up to be a real messy Christmas season. It's very hard to read. Some companies had a very strong Thanksgiving weekend, others weak.
caused companies great hear investors issue negative players signal tech worries
We're in a marketplace where any kind of negative signal worries people. The same way some of the tech companies caused a ripple, I think investors hear Lowe's issue a warning, hear what's going on with one of the great players in the sector, and they get nervous.