Blog 5

My article this week is Snuggie on the Street: Watch Your Back. This article discusses the reaction a journalist had while walking around NYC wearing a Snuggie. The main problem encountered was that the snuggie was that was staticy. Although you would generally think that many people would have had issue with someone roaming around NYC in a snuggie, but many people were excited. The author made several comments about wishing the blanket had pockets or a tie to close the back with in addition to sleeves. This article can affect the retail industry because of the comment about pockets and closure on the back. The snuggie has been a excellent success for its creators. If they created one with pockets and a closure it would most likely be just as popular! I know people who own snuggies and if they came out with a new one I could see them purchasing it. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/fashion/01snuggie.html?_r=1&ref=style

Blog 4

My article is titled Economy Adjusts Store Relations on Madison Avenue and was taken from the February 19 edition of The New York Times. This article discusses how designer stores are getting away from their traditional form of customer service during the recession. In past years it was normal for sales clerks to size up their customers as soon as they entered the door. Normally if a person’s shoes or watch was not expensive then clerks would not pay them any attention. The recent economy has sales clerks at many designer stores giving exceptional customer service to anyone who may be carrying a credit card, regardless of their shoes and watch. The author stated that within minutes of walking in to Chanel on Madison Avenue in jeans and a sweatshirt he had a $4,500 watch placed on his wrist by a gleeful sales clerk. Upon entering Tom Ford’s Madison Avenue store the author was offered his choice of a beverage which was then delivered by a butler.

If people who do not normally fit the designer clothing mold are treated the same way as people who obviously have money, then they will be more likely to buy. I personally do not think that judging people when they first come in is an appropriate practice. Just because someone is not wearing a few thousand dollars worth of clothing, does not mean they are poor. Not everyone with money flaunts it. I also know of many students who save their money to be able to afford that designer pocketbook. I know that I personally do not like shopping in stores where people are rude or ignore me. I feel that being politer to customers that do not fit the normal preferred customer profile could help raise sales at the designer stores. Some people can be convinced by good service to buy a product even if they do not currently have the money via a credit card.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/fashion/18SHOPPING.html?ref=fashion

Blog 3

My article is from the New York Times and is titled Peanut Case Shows Holes in Safety Net (Link posted below). This article discusses the condition of the factory which the contaminated peanut better which sicken thousand of people and killed eight was manufactured. According to the article the peanut industry does not have to notify anyone (consumers or government) of salmonella contamination within their plants. The outbreak caused thousands for products to be recalled, which impacts retail sales. Each product recalled is money lost my the company which produces it. Kellogg is among one of many companies which use peanuts in their products. Not only does this outbreak affect the retails any company which sell and manufacture peanut products, but it also affects the consumer. Thousands of people were sicked by contaminated peanut products, and eight were killed. Many people will think twice before buying anything made with peanuts, I know I have. Although salmonella is health related it can have an impact on the retail industry when released into products which are sold in stores.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/us/09peanuts.html?fta=y

Blog 2

My article came from The New York Times and is entitled Recession Has Landlords of Retail Tenants Extending Discounts of Their Own (Link at bottom of post). This article discusses how the current economy is leaving many retail businesses without ways to pay their rent and how many landlords are lowing rent and being lenient with rent due to the concept that they will not be able to re rent the space. Some landlords is NYC are helping out their tenants and offering to help pay taxes or even lowering the cost of rent. They are acting on the concept that some cash is better then nothing. With the recession many tenants have leverage over their landlords. In the past landlords with terminate leases or not renew them because they believed that they could find tenants willing to pay higher prices. If more landlords were willing to negotiate rates with their tenants or even help them in paying taxes, this could help to keep many more stores in business. Many smaller stores are being forced to close due to the hard economic times. My dad and brother shop at several small gaming stores in the Raleigh-Durham area. One of these stores closed at the end of 2009 due to not having enough business. If landlords could be more flexible with rent rates it could help smaller mom&pop stores survive the economy or at least give them a fighting chance.





http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/nyregion/01leases.html?_r=1&em