Current Event #2: Macy's takeover

While Sears is known for its housewares and appliances, Macy's is looking to gain some share. According to RetailingToday.com, Macy's has launched a new event, "Chef's a Go-Go" where well-renowned chefs will tour the country using Kitchen Aide appliances and teaching customers new ways to use them along with recipes. 


While Macy's is coming up with clever ideas to gain appliance sales, Sears is simply declining in sales. :-( The Chicago Tribune wrote, "In May, Sears reported that it swung to a first-quarter loss as sales sank at Kmart and Sears stores and its core appliance business continued a downward slide". 


I asked a coworker how she felt about this news and she commented that Sears doesn't have the kind of money to do a "Chef's a Go-Go" venture. When I asked why, she simply replied, "I don't know". That same employee though, decided to go "shop" at Macy's to compare prices and appliance selection. She reported to me that the prices are very similar and we have a wider range of appliances. So why are our sales declining and Macy's is able to spend money on celebrity chef's touring the world? We even match the prices of other retailers IF a customer finds it cheaper some where else. I have my own personal beliefs of why Sears isn't "flourishing" like it's other retail counterparts. Just from seeing store operations and dynamics first-hand...I think Sears has all the right tools but something, somewhere is going wrong, but no one really knows what it is. 

Bibliography/ citation: 

Retailing Today: (2011, June 21). "Macy's chefs hit the road". Retrieved on June 21, 2011 from: http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/macys-chefs-hit-road

Tribune staff report. (2011, June 21). Fitch Downgrades Sears. Retreived on June 21, 2011 from: 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-fitch-downgrades-sears-20110621,0,1282117.story