Sears executive has rare meeting with Tribune (Chicago, Glenview: appliances, refrigerators)

[chet everett]

This is an amazing interview in many ways. It highlights the hard decisions that Lampert, who many people had long ago written off as a heartless "raider" has had to make about how to keep the business going AND fufill promises to those who count on pensions from Sears -- Sears CEO: We're fighting like hell to change the way people do business with us - Chicago Tribune

I still have friends working for the company and they tell me the mood is very focused on the things needed to keep customers coming into the stores as well ordering online but it is obvious negative reports and the assessments of bond rating firms are also a huge drain on the firm.

In some ways Lampert's desire to have the press focus on the positives suggests that he should tap someone like Rahm Emanuel to be the firm's spokesperson...

[via chicago]

Q: There's going to be a point at which time isn't on your side any more, and a lot of people would say we're at that point. From the outside, it's hard to see evidence it's working. What are we missing?

A: I'm not sure it's a question of what's being missed. If you're looking to the left and things are happening to the right, you're missing things because you're not looking to the right, not because it's not happening. Costco came out last year with a new card and everyone was talking about it and writing about it. When we come out with our card, people only talk about closing stores.

the fact they think fiddling with loyalty cards is somehow "the answer" (or that people even want these things anymore) is a pretty clear indication of just how screwed they are

sears is screwed because the middle class no longer has the buying power it once did, and shopping habits have changed to almost entirely favor online commerce. theyre perpetually stuck in the 70s and 80s view of retail, and their corporate culture reflects that. theyve sold off basically any product line that was profitable long ago. everything else is cutting bone. the bigger question is "does the world even need sears in 2017?", and people are answering with their wallet. its unfortunate for the employees, but retail in general is in for rough times and the over expansion of space in the United States is due for a heavy correction, and we are just seeing the beginnings of it. its not just sears.

[Dport7674]

I think of power tools and refrigerators when I think of Sears. Things that only need replaced once a decade maybe.

[japster28]

Sears' bread and butter comes from appliances right? Well if I needed an appliance I would go to Best Buy or ABT in Glenview. There's also hhgregg and Fry's. All of these places don't even need to rely on appliances to make money. Appliances are one of the last products where brick and mortar reign supreme but Sears has significant competition which questions the viability of its existence already.

Kmart might have a little more staying power, but every Kmart I've been in is disheveled and grimey and makes me think that they are already liquidating the store. I have no use for a Kmart when there is probably a Target a mile away with a much better shopping experience. Most of the things I would buy at Target and Kmart I get from Amazon anyway.

To put on top of this they have a massive pension obligation? Yikes.


SHLD is a dead man walking, they just don't know it yet.

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by japster28

SHLD is a dead man walking, they just don't know it yet.

they know it.

[damba]

Originally Posted by via chicago

they know it.

The interview is almost a joke.

He states they have been working for a 'dozen years' to modernize the company. That's too slow.

"We are ahead of JC Penny, Macys & Target"

Hard not to be in front of JCP. Macys & Target though? Doubtful.

[Vlajos]

I used to go to the Sears on Lawrence (it was a dump, I know). It's closed now, so I don't shop at Sears ever.

[jwaiter]

I had shopped there a couple times.

[Maintainschaos]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

I used to go to the Sears on Lawrence (it was a dump, I know). It's closed now, so I don't shop at Sears ever.

Yeah, that Sears was...interesting.

[via chicago]

i once waited 10 minutes to get rung up there. not a cashier in sight. someone could make off with half their inventory if they really wanted to (someone did at one point, probably like 10 years ago judging by their shelves last time i was in there)

pretty sure i also saw their checkout system still running on DOS.