Sears to close 100 to 120 Kmart, Sears stores

[renovation]

I'm not surprised about this- Sometime back I needed a plunger and kmart was the nearest store to me. went in looked around ask the help .and was told they didn't carry plungers anymore. I never see much traffic in there parking lot . every time i do go in there place I seem to leave empty. not that I stop in there much after the plunger.
sear did just open up a mini mart type store about 3-4 months ago about 2-3 miles down the road from the kmart . it like a catalog outlet but stocks tools,TVs and appliances and exercise equipment. everything sold by sears can be order there. not to sure how its doing sales wise do.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/201...D9RT065O1.html


Quote:
Sears has yet to determine which stores will close but said it will post on when a final list is compiled. The company would not discuss how many, if any, jobs would be cut.http://www.searsmedia.com

[Napoleon54]

I think Kmart is at a disadvantage because their stores are generally older and with age they seem to have acquired a grunge kind of feel. (at least in my experience.) I wonder if a bit of capital investment to spruce the stores up a bit could stimulate a renaissance for their image and their business. Repave the parking lot, redo the front facade, refinish the floors, get some new shelving and registers, etc. Yeah it's an investment, but they're a well-established brand with huge market presence. Just a little reinvestment might pay off.

At any rate, I don't see how they can cut that number of stores without cutting jobs. Payroll is a major reason they'd be looking to close stores in the first place.

[Thesifer]

At any rate, I don't see how they can cut that number of stores without cutting jobs. Payroll is a major reason they'd be looking to close stores in the first place.

I'm sure Payroll helps, but the liquidation of items draws people in (They still aren't losing that much on the "Big Sales")

Gets rid of a lot of old inventory - They stop paying rent (which appears to be pretty massive for most companies in Malls and such) If they own the buildings as some are Stand alone - they'll make a lot from selling, even in this market.

I've seen companies (IBC Bank) Close down branches without cutting jobs, to save money. They closed down all branches tied to Malls / Walmarts etc. Because they were paying more in rent and they were "Convenience" spots. They did that and moved the employees that wanted to move to other branches in the area.

I assume though that some of the Sears / KMart stores that close will be the only ones in the area, and there wouldn't be a way to move the people unless they were willing to move locations. Some of them may do that if Sears offers, but I doubt any but senior management would find it worthwhile.

[Leon]

I think Kmart is at a disadvantage because their stores are generally older and with age they seem to have acquired a grunge kind of feel. (at least in my experience.) I wonder if a bit of capital investment to spruce the stores up a bit could stimulate a renaissance for their image and their business. Repave the parking lot, redo the front facade, refinish the floors, get some new shelving and registers, etc. Yeah it's an investment, but they're a well-established brand with huge market presence. Just a little reinvestment might pay off.

At any rate, I don't see how they can cut that number of stores without cutting jobs. Payroll is a major reason they'd be looking to close stores in the first place.

This is what the Sears Essentials (formerly Kmart) looks like in my town. Pretty much dead year round.

http://maps.google.com/?ll=32.831686...h&z=19&vpsrc=6

[Napoleon54]

This is what the Sears Essentials (formerly Kmart) looks like in my town. Pretty much dead year round.

http://maps.google.com/?ll=32.831686...h&z=19&vpsrc=6

Yeah I see what you mean. Here's the Walmart down the street for comparison!

http://maps.google.com/?ll=32.830154...h&vpsrc=6&z=19

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Here's the Kmart closest to me: link. It's in a large thriving plaza with a grocery store on the other end and a dozen smaller stores in the middle. Kmart is at the top end where all the empty parking spaces are. You can even see how bad the parking lot is, it's all full of ruts and pot holes. The rest of the place is just as grungy and worn, it makes you feel a little dirty just to walk in there. That's what I mean about dressing up the place a bit, revitalize the brand image.

[renovation]

i forgot to tell you all the Kmart by me is a green k-mart. the lettering is all Green ,employees all wear green smocks and it was the first in the nation to be turned into a Green K-Mart. they even had martha the Bitc* Steward come there when they revamped it to Green. the employees were told to stay clear of her and unless she spoke to them keep there mouths closed .they had her paint a wall. ok she grab a wet paint roller and lifted it up and they shot pictures of her. they /she had another person paint it. But made it seem like she got her fingers dirty doing it. all the employees said she was a royal witch and wanted to clap when she left in her bentley.

[The Happy Squirrel]

yeah, the one right across the bridge is closing for sure. THe one in town here is a maybe. I know someone who works there and management has made some cryptic statements, but there has been no announcement from HQ. Kmart sucks lol

[RoniMan]

Interesting read, especially since we just walked into a Sears Essential(one that's being closed) and found a nice pair of slippers that I wanted. However, there was no tag on it, and since it was in the 70% off clearance section, I figured it wouldn't hurt to get a price check. The clerk typed in the item number and it came up 0.00. SWEET! i thought, but alas, no. After she checked with a manager, the manager said that anything that rang up as 0.00 cannot be sold, but she would be nice and grab something so it could be priced comparably. She grabbed a $60 slipper! I was like....umm...1) that's not even the same brand! and 2) it was in the 70% clearance, do I still get the discount? (No)...pfftt....

so...yeah, no surprise from me that they're closing

[Napoleon54]

Interesting read, especially since we just walked into a Sears Essential(one that's being closed) and found a nice pair of slippers that I wanted. However, there was no tag on it, and since it was in the 70% off clearance section, I figured it wouldn't hurt to get a price check. The clerk typed in the item number and it came up 0.00. SWEET! i thought, but alas, no. After she checked with a manager, the manager said that anything that rang up as 0.00 cannot be sold, but she would be nice and grab something so it could be priced comparably. She grabbed a $60 slipper! I was like....umm...1) that's not even the same brand! and 2) it was in the 70% clearance, do I still get the discount? (No)...pfftt....

so...yeah, no surprise from me that they're closing

??? wtf???? So they have stuff just laying around on display with no intention of selling it? What're they trying to do, just confuse you? That's pretty effed up.

[The Happy Squirrel]

??? wtf???? So they have stuff just laying around on display with no intention of selling it? What're they trying to do, just confuse you? That's pretty effed up.

Maybe thats indicitive of why they are closing.