Algernon Moncrieff
Algernon Moncrieff's JournalMy limited view of retail doesn't look great
I've been shopping this week and the past two. This week, the big-boxers (Walmart, Target) have finally begun to look busy, although both were running about 1/3 of their available cashier lanes.
I also went to a Department Store last night - Dillards. My older daughter wanted some boots, and I was able to order them online for store pickup. Easy, no-hassle experience with no complaints. But the store was dead. A week before we all try to outdo the Three Kings for gift giving - dead. I'd remember being in Department stores in the malls in my 20s and 30s a week before Christmas, and they were packed. The cashier stands had lines. Now racks of clothes and costume jewelry and boxes of Harry & David Moose Munch and Godiva Chocolate go untouched. It came as a surprise partly because I've been told that the higher-end stores are largely escaping the carnage in retail.
I'm just one guy; this was just one store, and I have only been to this store in this place. I have to think that there will be more hemorrhaging in retail in 1Q and 2Q 2020, though. The malls are just not attracting buyers; the remaining department stores seem to not have a market to whom to sell, and free shipping and the time savings are just making online buying so simple.
If you've seen a different story, I'd be interested in you to share it.
General Questions for DUers About the Holidays & The Economy
1) Thinking about the last Holiday season, do you figure to spend more, less, or about the same this year?
2) At this point, is your shopping done? Close? Not close? Not Started? You make gifts?
3) Do you still mostly give "things" or gift cards?
4) Do you mostly shop brick and mortar or Online?
5) Has the recent rise in retail closings impacted your shopping this year?
A shout-out to all of the college kids working in these campaigns
A son of a friend of mine was working for the Harris campaign. He'd survived the staff cuts that came with the office closures a few weeks back. Honor student and recent bachelor's degree grad who had deferred law school to work on the campaign. There are a lot of those kids / young adults on these campaigns doing the grunt work - answering calls, handing out fliers at events, making calls, and knocking on doors. For many, when their candidate drops, it's back to school or the job market. For others, it will be on to another campaign - maybe another Presidential candidate, or maybe someone looking to win a House or Senate seat. Very long days, very little money, and maybe there's a staff job at the end if the candidate wins - and maybe not. It's a labor of love, and none of these candidates could do the job without them.
So thanks, guys!
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Member since: Sun Apr 20, 2014, 12:49 AMNumber of posts: 5,790