This is just a quick followup. Today's WSJ did some more analysis on the Wal-Mart holiday weekend stagnation. It opened with this paragraph which sounds like what I wrote earlier about Michelle's experiences:
When she set out to do her Christmas shopping last weekend, Terry Snook skipped Wal-Mart and instead drove several miles to Target. The 43-year-old Houston audiologist says she wanted to avoid the crowds she sometimes runs into at Wal-Mart. And she found better deals on toys at Target.
Wal-Mart has readily admitted it faces stronger competition than ever, as it explained its disappointing weekend sales. Target Corp., which is pushing its fashion edge and continually adding more food offerings, is one of its hottest rivals.
It goes on later to mention where they stand in the market and what weaknesses their competitors are trying to leverage. A few excerpts follow:
Rivals are hammering away at two other themes: aesthetics and unique products, says Richard Hastings, a retail analyst with Bernard Sands LLC. "They're watching Wal-Mart's merchandising and very carefully calculating how to be different. Wal-Mart is still doing value retailing, but they've done nothing to improve the aesthetics of the store experience."
Of course, even given its recent missteps, Wal-Mart's status as the world's leading retailer is hardly in danger. On the day after Thanksgiving alone, Wal-Mart stores together probably sold more than $1.5 billion in merchandise. [It] commands about 25% of the U.S. toy market and more than 17% of the U.S. food and drug retailing market.
With some customers, Wal-Mart has an image problem. "I feel like when you walk into a Wal-Mart. . . they want you in and out as quickly as possible," says Manuel De Pena, a 44-year-old software company executive in Sterling, Va. Target stores, he adds, "seem to be constantly getting better and friendlier."
Today's Dilbert also took a humorous dig at Wal-Mart, stating that for many manufacturers, Wal-Mart effectively owns them.
Now if we could just do something to stall the explosion of Dunkin' Donuts stores on Amherst Street/101A...
I have other things to write about but need the time to do so...