Retail Struggles
Sat, 07/11/2009 - 12:26am
I was in the mall today, and couldn't help but feel bad for the retailers. Honestly I think products and clothing are over priced but with the economy struggling, people are really needing to take a look at whether they need a item or not. Stores seem to be empty and sale signs are everywhere. ( It reminds me of boxing day). Does anyone else feel sad for the smaller stores that are closing up after years of business? And what about the bigger ones? Artcandy
I work part-time at a retailer. (Life of a grad student...). We definitely don't have people coming and buying piles and piles of stuff with abandon. But business has still been steady. Some days can be pretty looong and slow with no customers.
Katie
Hi, Robyn!I manage a store in an outlet center, and we do very well in the summer, mainly because of all the tourist trade we get from Hershey Park. A lot of my customers are Europeans, and they still spend a lot, I think a lot depends on the exchange rate, sometimes it's a lot cheaper to shop in the U.S., but when I did work in a regular mall, vs. an outlet center, I certainly noticed the lack in traffic and spending, it was depressing.
I do feel bad for the retailers. Some items are so marked down I know they have to be loosing money. I have purchased many basic work clothes at a fraction of the price. Sometimes I do feel a little guilty for the amount of clothes I get for a certain dollar amount. (I really do have a guilt complex about a variety of things.)Friday I got a really cute green dress at Ann Taylor Loft for $4.88! The lady who rung me up seemed to really be taken a back. She said this is a quality dress you will have for the rest of your life and you ONLY PAID $4.88?!?!? I just smiled and said, I know I got REALLY LUCKY!
I worry because I live in a small tourist town, and 95% of the stores sell high end women's clothing. Luckily I'm not employed at one of those stores, but I can't help but wondering how they are making rent, let alone profit these days. Its a little bit scary!That said, I don't feel "guilty" when I go into stores an get things on sale. I've always been pretty thrifty, evaluating if what I'm considering buying is a "need" or just a "want", so my buying habits really haven't changed much.
Don't ever feel guilty, take it from someone who knows, the really awesome deals out on the floor only get there after all of the employees pass on it!! Not that there would be anything wrong with the item, just that if it's out there, no one on staff wanted or needed it. Maybe just not the style of any of the associates.
Sale items are my FAVORITE!! I just bought a super cute coctail dress last night...on sale for $30!!! I was beyond excited.
http://simplethingshere.blogspot.com
I do feel bad for the smaller stores that have to close. I think if I'd sunk my money into a business a few years ago when the economy was doing well -- and then lost it all because of matters beyond my control, I would totally lose my mind! I love independent little stores that have things no one else is showing, that can take a chance on some little-known but fab designers. And it does pain me to see them closing their doors.That said, I do love a bargain! I bought a lot of things at Eddie Bauer yesterday. I would have bought more, but I started feeling guilty. Hope I get over that soon!
Carole
I went to a legit mall yesterday near Pittsburgh and I was so surprised by how many of the stores had shut down, even big chains like Forever 21, were gone from it. I was pretty bummed because I felt like half the mall wasn't even there anymore.I work in retail. I work at a catalog call center, actually. It's been really slow there the past week. Literally last week we got 3,000 less calls than projected (that's a lot of money missing!). It's pretty crazy.
i dont feel bad for the retail giants who have been overcharging for years. places i could afford with money from my summer job in high school i cant afford now as a grad student even when i was working full-time. as for the family-owned stores closing after 70 years and stuff, i sometimes feel bad. even some restaurants are closing that i never took the time to go to even though they got excellent reviews. i guess i feel bad about the missed opportunities whenever a place closes.
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Having a family that owns a bakery, we definitely feel the impact of the recession. Sales aren't as big as it used to be but we're hanging on and thankfully our loyal customers haven't left us.
I wish I could relate: San Antoniothe closest city to me was recently voted the "#1 city NOT to be hit by the recession!" Mostly due to the fact that jobs are still being created as companies re-locate here from CA and such and housing starts never did the BOOM like they did in other areas,a great thing.I go to 2 malls and both are quite "upscale": I am amazed at the number of people shopping and the sales in the high-end stores like Coach and Juicy...I think the "opposite" is happening down here: people are spending BIG because they are uncertain about the economic future as a whole and don't think they'll have to end up paying all those credit card bills...I'm going to the Apple store for "classes" on my new Mac: 10 and 12 yr; olds are getting brand new computers,iPhones,and you name it while I'm sitting there and "kids" are getting 300+ purses in the Coach store rigth next door I walk by.Something's gotta' give...it's outta' control.What fun to own a bakery for sure!!!
I was down in the states this weekend. From Vancouver, Canada we go down to the Seattle Outlet Stores. I didn't notice the store closures as much however was at a place that attracts tourists. Some of the stores had great deals...ie, Coach, Watch store ( Can't recall name but 60% off). I'm also noticing that some stores are adding on it least 15-20 % and then doing the buy 1 get 50% off. I really don't like this type of a sale as much as I find you end up buying two things just to get the deal. Does anyone else feel the same? I'm surprised Forever 21 is closing some of their stores. They are opening here in Canada.Artcandy
♥Robyn♥
I know what you mean! I live in a pretty small town, and we have some really nice boutique-ish shops in our downtown area. There's one in particular that sells really special jewelry, baubles, and just tons of shiny stuff that is so fun to look at. Unfortunately, it, along with a few other places are closing due to rough times, and I'm just so sad about it.It really was one of the places that had unique items you can't get everywhere. I wish I weren't on a student budget so I could've actually supported the place instead of just window shopping wistfully!!
I not only feel bad for the stores, but their employees. My husband has a masters in Electrical Engineering and started his own business after the company he worked for transferred all their work to Kuala Lumpur. Our little business did great until this economy. The companies he contracted to couldn't afford outside consultants so we shut it down before times were worse. He sent out 73 resume's, got one response and got the job, luckily. Our neighbor, an accountant, has been looking for over two years. Their house is now in forclosure. Small stores employee lots of people who can't work full time or are not educated for the white color work, but they need those jobs. Then of course, money is also tight, so I shop sales too. I don't know the answer.
Beste Hilsin
It's interesting, because I just graduated from college last spring and now have a job, so I actually have a little spending money for the first time in my life and don't have to worry about tuition! So seeing all of these sales is AWESOME! However, it is a pretty sad time for businesses. Macy's has had TONS of "one day sales" and so on in the past few months, but they never seem to be that busy when I go there. The parking lot was not even half full, which is sad for a big store with a big sale going on. It's interesting though, because JC Penney's seems to be busier than Macy's when JCP has a sale, because of the perception that they're cheaper than Macy's (although seriously, Macy's stuff can get ridiculously cheap, even for their name brand stuff!) The GAP at my local mall closed years ago, which was pretty sad, in my opinion, but the Old Navy is doing well. It's going to be very interesting to see how things play out with all of the retailers competing for the limited amount of business out there. Honestly, I just like having my preferred retail stores available to me, but the rise and fall of businesses is the nature of business.What's worse for me is thinking about how so many people cannot afford even the sales, how many people have lost their jobs and are trying to feed a family on the income of one. When I was little, meier and frank (now Macy's) always seemed busy on the weekends, sale or no sale. Thinking about all of those people who are now at home, or working a second job if they can get one... That's what really hits me hard.
♥ Lipgloss and Spandex: a blog for gals who look good and run fast
I do part of the billing at a utility company and almost all of the smaller businesses in the area have closed or are closing in the next month. Most of them are just getting out before it becomes an issue being open but a couple have fallen. A lot of people out there just can't afford things even with a sale. It's sad but I hope it picks back up.