Some miserable SOB stole my hammock from our dock on the Russian River last week. (We spend Tues/Fri at SF; Fri/Monday at the Russian River.) On the way back to SF today we stopped at two places in Santa Rosa that we normally would not: the first, a large Kmart. The second, an equally large Wallmart. The reason that we don't normally shop at either of those two places has nothing to do with snobbery- it's simply that we do most of our shopping in or near SF during the week, and neither of those two stores have outlets nearby. Costco, thankfully, has an outlet in SF.
As it turned out neither of those stores had a replacement hammock, but to someone who was looking at the two stores with a fresh eye, it was impossible to not notice the difference: Kmart is among the walking dead: there were literally more employees than there were customers. Wallmart seemed to be doing just fine. To our eyes, both stores had pretty much the same types, quality and depth of merchandise, and were about equal in atmosphere. Yet Walmart is thriving; Kmart is all but dead.
I'm making an assumption here- always dangerous- that the pricing for most items in the two stores is fairly competitive. So why does one store live, and the other die?
Comments
https://nytimes.com/2017/03/30/business/edward-lampert-sears-kmart.html?mcubz=1
businessinsider.com/how-eddie-lampert-set-sears-up-to-fail-2017-5
What light does this any of this shed on why customers are at Wal-Mart and not Kmart? Are you seriously suggesting that customers are aware of the abstruse philosophical differences in management style, and shun one in favor of the other because of this?
The same took place in Murrells Inlet, SC that you have described above. Back in the mid 80's a new Kmart opened in Inlet Square Mall as one of three anchor stores. J C Penney and Belks were the other two. Since, this was a new mall all the stores seemed to do well; however, there was no Walmart close by. Then, Walmart came to Murrells Inlet and customers begin to trade more and more at Walmart. For years, we bought at both places because some things at Kmart seemed to appeal to us over some of the goods Walmart offered. Today, there is no Kmart in Murrells Inlet and the mall is now struggeling to attract patrons to its remaining stores which are now mostly regional and local type based enterprises. Belks a regional retailer is now the only anchor store left while Walmart about a mile a way is thriving. The Kroger has done well through the years back then and now too.
One, might ask Why?
These two subject stores caught trade from a good number of tourist that came to the area during the summer months and Walmart being the mass marketing retailer that it has become caught more and more trade until it begin to get the lion's share with more and more locals favoring Walmart over Kmart. And, so it goes ... Kmart & J C Penney are no more in Murrels Inlet although a Stein Mart has moved into the old J C Penney location. The mall just does not attract the traffic that it use to. While if you are a gent and want a nice dress suite, dress slacks, or prep attire, etc., in Murrells Inlet, Belks' men's department is the place to go. Drive ten miles and there is a Dillards ... drive 60 miles and there is Charleston. While, in Myrtle Beach about 20 miles away there are a good number of outlet stores including some upscale retail shops like Brooks Brothers.
Want a really good hammock? Google and look at Pawley's Island Hammocks.
Skeet
Yes, I am saying that me-first philosophy filtered down to how the stores were run and essentially destroyed the business. As the articles I posted state, Lampert has been slowly sucking the company dry via buybacks for the benefit of shareholders at the expense of customers/employees and store quality. From the third article:
Thanks for making comment.
Murrells Inlet is still a nice quaint fishing village; but, with a drinking problem created by the many that now visit the restaurants, and bars, etc. At one time, years back, there was talk by some locals that wanted to put chains with padlocks on every street that led to the Inlet; and, then issue keys to only those that belonged. Natually, this did not come to be. I feel blessed for my family to have a small second home there now for many years. Yes, it has had (and continues to have) a good amount of new housing and other development that keeps coming its way.
In South Carolina ... Murrells Inlet is now known as the seafood capital of the state for its many great restaurants which now total about 114. One of the oldest, with roots dating back to the Civil War era, is the "Hot Fish Club" and a favorite of mine.
In addition, Mickey Spillane a best selling author called the Inlet home. Back in the 80's I'd catch Mickey eating at the counter at Flo's Place (one of his favorites).
And, if you want a really good hammock ... visit the Hammock Shop, Pawleys Island. They maintain a shop staffed by native skilled craftsmen where a hammock can be commission and signed the craftsman that made it or you can buy from their inventory.
Old_Skeet