Losing Our Department Stores. A New Model

No, the Internet has smashed many type of retail operations. Over 50% of retail sales are now done online and it is growing. Amazon with 2 day free shipping is the new gorilla in the room. Nothing will change this.

 

For me, the old school department stores are in the roughest part of San Bernardino. Nothing they have is worth the risk of being robbed, or having your car broke into.

 

i didn't say they NEED to get crushed... just that they WILL.

 

I don't think so. As I've pointed out, there is a lot that Amazon can't replace, and their prices aren't that much better, especially with shipping.

 

http://bigthink.com/paul-ratner/ama...e-cities-staffed-by-armies-of-delivery-drones

 

I still have some American made tools my furst tool set of socket wrenches punches, screw drivers, Allen wrenches, pliers, etc was all American made. Got them as a gift early 1970's. I still have Wiss sheet metal cutters, Craftman rivet tool and an Cresent TM. wrenches , I used to stop at tag sales to pick up old US made hand tools cheap. I bought open end wrenches for25 cents. I do have some SK tools their pliers used to have green grip covers. I did not realize that Wright tools were US made, thanks for the info.

 

I shop at brick and mortar stores as much as possible. I online shop online only if I have to.

I've heard of some asses that go to a camera store and drain as much info as possible from the staff, taking an hour of the salesman's time. Then they go online to save $5 on the camera. Jerks.

 

And I hope they never do. More than a convenient family outing, malls have been a place for teens to hang out to socialize, and seniors to get their morning walk in before the stores open. (It has become a phenomenon, don't know if you've noticed). Without the personal interaction in malls, the next generation will be relegated to more alone time with their noses in their devices.

If I were the merchant/developer, however, I would shift the shopping experience of a mall. The food courts do not offer clean fresh foods, which would be a welcome addition. And the merchandise in the Federated and chain stores is all the same, where ever you go. When I was a kid, shopping in another big city was an adventure, because the merchandise reflected the personality of that city. I bought very different clothes in Orange County than in San Francisco - and Sausalito was nothing but beautiful hand crafted imports and locally made items with an artsy approach. Good old family stores like I.Magnin and Ransohoffs provided uniqueness.

I think that if our economy can get up on higher ground once more, the malls would do well to develop unique personalities through their merchandise offering.

 

Amazon took 40% of the holiday shopping, this year. That's definitely a blow to the brick and mortar stores.

 

The first times I shopped at Walmart, I found the experience numbing, not exciting. The store is so big - and I was just lost in it. I called the experience being a Walmart Zombie. After making the adjustment, I find I treat it like a small store - I just stop in for one department and then leave.

In the middle east they have souks. All of the streets are organized by merchandise type - jewelers are all down one street, lingerie on another, etc. I think the model would work with malls - rather than scatter the store types so they don't compete, they should organize them so a shopper can go straight to the china and silver stores and shop them side-by-side.

 

Sears just sold their "Craftsman" line of tools and products to Black & Decker for 900 million. Craftsman was literally the only reason I would ever consider going to Sears. No I have no reason. (in a way it doesn't matter because many of the tools now sold at Sears come from China)

Oh well...........no problem..........when I'm in the market for cheap Chinese tools, I can always to go Harbor Freight.

 

Well said. Online shopping has become way too convenient to ignore. And if you do the research you get what you want at the best price. Amazon particularly is taking over.

 

In terms of power tools Porter Cable used to be the standard for quality. Lowes developed a relationship with PC and Dewalt but the quality suffered in order to drop the price.

I was told that PC/Dewalt made two different "qualities" of product...one for the trades market and one for the discount stores. From what I can see they simply began making cheaper tools

 

I bought a fence post puller that wouldn't pull my fence posts. I had to take it back. Then I bought a 6 ton jack that failed after pulling one post. I had to take it back. This is why I do little shopping online. My local hardware store sold me a 6 ton jack (more expensive) that works. My local hardware store usually has what I need when I need it, and also has good problem solving advice.

 

Is your local store, local or an ACE Hardware or some such?

 

Both of the Kmarts in my county--one in my own town, and one in a contiguous town--have shut down.

And I understand that the Sears in my town is on its last legs.

 

I bought the fence puller and my first 6 ton jack at Tractor Supply. The second 6 ton jack was bought at a local hardware store owned by an individual. I had a 1/2 inch plate with a slot cut in it. I put a 12 ton jack on one side and the 6 ton on the other. I finally got them out of the ground. I already had the 12 ton jack.

 

And now there's companies that offer bespoke clothing online, using graphics based measuring software that claims to be better than humans. It's pricey, but still competitive with top line off the rack.

Retail as we know it is truly dead and I will not mourn it. If anyone can think of any more truly soul numbing work I don't even want to know what it could possibly be.

 

I'd love to see it. Of course, that's malls... Malls have been hurting for a long time, and around my area we mainly just have shopping centers/strip malls and lone stores.

As for Walmart, I like having a lot of crap available in one place. I'll check various departments for things I might want or need, while other times I'll just head straight to what I'm after and then get out. I find it's convenient for both styles of shopping. Meanwhile, I'll order stuff online if I just can't get it locally or don't care to go hunting for it. Say, used video games and accessories - rather than go to some far-flung pawn shop or used goods store and try to find something, I'll just hit up Ebay or Amazon. I wouldn't want to give up one for the other (brick & mortar vs online) seeing as how both have their uses, and from what I've seen, there are still plenty of people shopping and buying at these stores. If a place like Sears or Kmart is going under, it's because they're failing to adjust to current conditions, and especially to their competition. If one brick & mortar is better for certain goods and services than another, then it's just as likely to drive the other one out of business as is online retail.

 

That indicates at least that they're leaving brick and mortar a smaller slice of the pie to fight over. I suppose it's inevitable that a few will lose out eventually unless they can adjust and adapt. I suppose the OP's smaller store suggestion has merit if it can really save overhead without causing business to go elsewhere. Depends on what they carry, I guess.

Then again, the smart stores are already online as well, which helps them to compete directly with Amazon and the like.

 

Actually Amazon is showing the way to compete. Think in NYC they now have a typical box retail store for their customers, or if you prefer, current members. You go in, swipe what your wanting, charged on your account and go home. I don't know if they also have a way for non account holders to buy, paying at some check out system, but the combination would work for any retail business.

 

Okay,

Typing Slowly​

JC Penny and Sears among others had product lines to this day have a following.
Consider underwear. Or Goldtoe socks. Consider cotton blends. Consider . . . . I miss Mervin's Cambridge Shirts.

Take a breath!
4 second minimum

ah - haaaaaa​

J.C. Penny et al could establish Mini Stores that market the products people are most loyal and maybe some seasonals.
Not every store need be a "full" department store. Back to basics. Satellite stores, suitable for a mini-mall.
And thus maintain customer loyalty. And make more.

It is about an alternative model for JC Penny, etc. Not to negate JC Penny dot Com sales
but to enhance it's "main st." presence via "back to basics" mini stores with seasonals.
And thereby enhance its' department store visits and online sales.

End typing slowly​

Moi

r > g

Across an immense, unguarded, ethereal border, Canadians, cool and unsympathetic,
regard our America with envious eyes and slowly and surely draw their plans against us.​

 

Online shopping is great for second-hand/antiques. Most shop owners put their merchandise on Ebay and if you are looking for something specific like vintage martini pitchers you can just run a search on it.