Retail Watchers

The sugar cane cartel here in the US is the big reason for the migration to foreign jams/jellies (together with the HFCS use). There is a big processor in Canada which seems to have a lot of the "natural-ish" market sewn up---the formulas and labeling requirements for US products made by C...

yeah, if they don't have grab-and-go decor (tealights/plants/dishware/pots and pans/pillows/linens----roughly comparable lines to a Marshalls/TJX/Home Goods--they probably will not do well...the store I referenced in Toronto certainly had that.

I went to the Pacific store in Rancho Mirage/Palm Desert a couple years ago (mid COVID--height of supply chain problems) carrying a bagful of dishes to test-fit them into higher-end dishwashers. I had exactly that experience...extraordinarily well prepared folks who were glad to help. If those peopl...

[/quote] The problem is that outside of small local markets like Palmdale there is little awareness in LA. They would have to spend a fortune on advertising in the 2nd most expensive ad market in the US (1st being NY). They would have to open dozens of stores to offset just the advertising costs... ...

This is similar to the Ikea which opened up in Toronto a couple years ago---Toronto's ringed with "normal" Ikea stores, but this is smack downtown (right on Yonge/Wellesley). They have set up neighbourhood (sic) pickup depots for semi-bulky stuff, it appeared. It was a perfectly legitimate...

I love how some media skews things. So conveniently this news comes out and validates my (and others here) concerns about the poor consistency of the Macy's operation. But the headlines are different depending on where you look. CNBC is discussing the fact that Macy's is OPENING more stores and wil...

There was a segment on KPCC this morning on the merger---the Lempert guy (what a bonehead) and a law professor from U of Buffalo (of all places that this merger won't effect)... https://www.kpcc.org/podcast/airtalk/whats-behind-the-ftcs-suit-to-block-the-kroger-and-albertsons-merger Only other thing...

Agreed vis-a-vis Gelsons/Jensens in the Coachella Valley. We live walking distance to Jensens in Palm Springs---I'll stroll over Sunday AM for the newspaper and a browse through the deli---there are a few excellent products (their Thai noodle salad is amazing) and the prices for deli are not worse t...

That is quite a tell. The in-store environment doesn't have an "end of days" feel---it's hard to describe, but in the (admittedly few and pretty centrally located) stores I've been in the smiles have been there, there doesn't seem to be any grumpiness, the bustle seems appropriate. Further...

Just received in my Valpak mailer in the Coachella Valley a coupon for Kroger shop-from-home (branded as-such, with all the nameplates on the other side) for specialty/exotic merchandise. Seemed to me like nothing more than a relaunch of Vitacost which ISTR did show up in Valpak mailings from time t...