Nickname: Strategery

Review: The problem is all retailers have their labor budget as a percentage of sales. This means, that if the sales are down for whatever reason, the staff is reduced, the reduced customer service further reduces sales, and creates a declining trap a store manager cannot escape. Using gas prices for lower sales is an excuse, as gasoline as a percentage of disposable income is still low. What is happening is that people are no longer refinancing their homes so that they can spend 150% of their income. Stores that focus on sales rather than profits will sink; you can still make money with less sales, but you must limit your inventory quantity and selection to what you will sell.

Date reviewed: Jul 18, 2007 9:44 PM

Nickname: don

Review: When the middle class agrees to massive tax cuts for the rich, and corporate leaders conspire to bust workers wages while neoconservatives manipulate the country into fighting trillion dollar wars to make the world safe for Israel this is what you get - an impoverished country whose people cannot pay their bills or buy goods other than necessities.The business community wanted a republican goverment and they got what they wished for. Unlike Henry Ford,no thought was given as to who could afford to buy their products. Don't worry, the worst is yet to come.

Date reviewed: Jul 22, 2006 3:01 PM

Nickname: hblioness

Review: I support a family of 3 on less than 19,000 a year.I have 45,000 in mortgage debt and 15,000 in unsecured debt. I have taken college classes at night for 4 years-I earn an associates-businesses want a bachelors/masters degree. I've worked in retail since 16 (I'm now 44)yet I can't progress past 9.65 per hr.I see 20 somethings make the same wage as I do.Although I have credit scores above 720,I don't make enough to pay down principal on my unsecured debt. I haven't had a raise in two years, but rising interest rates and utility costs have risen by 250.00 per month. My husband is 60-no one will hire him.I would gladly train for any job that would help me earn real money.I haven't missed a day of work in 8 years,even when sick. I can't afford to!(No health coverage or benefits either).

Date reviewed: Jul 19, 2006 11:13 PM

Nickname: mfczap

Review: Have you considered purchases made via the Internet? We now buy pharmacueticals, pet meds, cameras, clothes, computers, music, books ... on the Net. No fighting traffic, no lines - and they deliver it to your door. I see the trend growing.

Date reviewed: Jul 13, 2006 2:51 AM

Nickname: timflowers

Review: We can relate to this. Our two stores in regional malls have been almost dead lately. Even merchandise marked down way below cost isn't selling. Shoppers say they have no money.

Date reviewed: Jul 12, 2006 11:39 PM

Nickname: Chandra

Review: One simple reason. Gas prices are having an effect on consumer spending. I am a college student in grad school and I feel the hard ship when I have to fill up my gas tank each time. It's like every time I go to fill it up the gas prices have gone up. Unfortunately my salary has not increased in significant amount thus forcing me to cancel the frequent shopping trips to the mall.

Date reviewed: Jul 12, 2006 9:37 PM

Nickname: Rockinger

Review: Despite the fact that retail industry has been the main driver of creating new jobs with more value added, its performance lags behind the competitive edge. I believe this is a result of very unfavorably switched market conditions. High interest rates, uprising inflation and a large level of personal financial debt make it difficult for consumers to contriubte at least a portion of their time to consumption which is actually one of many effective ways for retailers to increase sales and thereby profits, taking personal consumer preferences into account. And from this point, job growth is a problem of specific consumer behavior which acts theoretically in line with what we may read from microeconomic textbooks. Downsloped consumption burdens job creation since retailers make it difficult to create new jobs and new investment in their business which drives their engine of growth, development and investment forward to the future. Regards, Rockinger

Date reviewed: Jul 12, 2006 7:48 PM

Nickname: BARTMAN

Review: As a former retail manager with a good knowledge of retail, I must commend you on a very consise report. Labor costs have always hounded management. No matter how high tech retail becomes, it always distills down to the basics. Kudos

Date reviewed: Jul 12, 2006 6:06 PM

Nickname: Brad

Review: What about the effect on fuel prices for the retailers, themselves? Shouldn't fuel's effect on retailers' supply chains be mentioned when considering that job growth is in large part dependent on whether retailers can make a profit or not?

Date reviewed: Jul 12, 2006 1:24 PM