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America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

bloomberg.com

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Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#11

Post by thefalcon »

sandworm101 wrote: post #10
hprotagonist wrote: post #2

in general, it is difficult for me to separate a reasonable concern borne of the knowledge that a thriving economy is important from a sense that, so far, the big retail chains that are closing many locations sell junk that i both do not want and think is largely superfluous anyway. Anyone got a reasonable way to synthesize those competing thoughts?

>>> junk that i both do not want and think is largely superfluous anyway. I'm reminded of an article I read last year about parents buying presents for kids at Christmas. In the 90s it was easy. The kid wanted a thing. A gaming device, a dress, or a car... there was an object that the kid wanted to own. That object was sold at a store. But today's kids don't want things. They have the iPhone. What they want is 50,000…

Thankfully 50,000 likes on Facebook is cheaper than the object at the store. (Only somewhat kidding. Don't buy your kids Facebook Likes.)

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#12

Post by irrational »

Retric wrote: post #3

Retail is dependent on consumer spending. As more stores close the remainder should be more profitable, which should minimize ripple effects.

Do you still shop in brick and mortar stores? Other than food (groceries and restaurants) and sometimes clothing, I haven't shopped in a brick and mortar store in so long that I can't even remember when was the last time. It's just so easy to buy things online, even small one off purchases. The other day I needed some AAA batteries so I just hopped on Amazon and ordered them and they showed up a day later. I probably could have used Prime Now to get them within hours if I really needed them right then. That is so much simpler than traveling to a store and back to pick up anything. I'm really not sure how most brick and mortar stores will stay in business.

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#13

Post by ewheeler »

The 'Retail jobs growth by state' chart in this article (approx 2/3 down the page) is lovely: one square line chart for each US state, positioned roughly according to geography, all equal in size.

I find it very easy to grok compared to choropleth maps and similar charts that attempt to stay true to geography.

Unlike other non-map presentations of US state data, this layout preserves ability to spot regional similarities visually.

Is there a name for this kind of chart layout?

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#14

Post by viridian »

hprotagonist wrote: post #2

in general, it is difficult for me to separate a reasonable concern borne of the knowledge that a thriving economy is important from a sense that, so far, the big retail chains that are closing many locations sell junk that i both do not want and think is largely superfluous anyway. Anyone got a reasonable way to synthesize those competing thoughts?

I think the synthesis is the hope that the market replacements for these stores is less terrible. The big displacer in the last few years has really been Amazon, who I think offers a better shopping experience than most overpriced specialty stores. Many of these stores only held firm in the market due to having an information advantage over the consumers, as well as the convenience of providing items that are similar in kind (ie toys at toys r us). The effects of a post online shopping and price comparison world are still being shaked out.

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#15

Post by gr3yh47 »

ewheeler wrote: post #13

The 'Retail jobs growth by state' chart in this article (approx 2/3 down the page) is lovely: one square line chart for each US state, positioned roughly according to geography, all equal in size. I find it very easy to grok compared to choropleth maps and similar charts that attempt to stay true to geography. Unlike other non-map presentations of US state data, this layout preserves ability to spot regional similari…

it looks like 'the periodic table of US retail jobs growth'

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#16

Post by mjevans »

I really hate investment firms that operate entirely on financial trickery instead of actually sound business activities that increase productivity.

I still think there's a problem with retail, but adding the above seems like salting the earth you're trying to grow a diverse farm in.

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#17

Post by Analemma_ »

Make sure you read the article and don't just come here to comment: there's an important point that this isn't (just) due to Amazon and overbuilding, but because a lot of these troubled chains-- even the ones that are still profitable!-- are loaded up on debt from leveraged private equity buyouts. Once again, PE accomplishes nothing except stripping healthy companies to sell their organs.

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#18

Post by devereaux »

Very nice graphs to illustrate and support the points.

First I like how there is no piechart, but box charts (easier to read). Then the 2nd path of job recovery in time since 2008 show a more recent divergence of retail job.

Finally, it is the first time I see how GIS maps can be supplemented by stacked rectangular graphs for each state where the trend in time is shown. I spotted something going on in New England on the choropleth, but the graph nailed it.

Very inspiring to read, especially for the graphs.

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#19

Post by javajosh »

hprotagonist wrote: post #2

in general, it is difficult for me to separate a reasonable concern borne of the knowledge that a thriving economy is important from a sense that, so far, the big retail chains that are closing many locations sell junk that i both do not want and think is largely superfluous anyway. Anyone got a reasonable way to synthesize those competing thoughts?

Optimistically, it means that workers will be freed up to do things that are more important. Cynically, all you (a generic programmer type) really need is food, lodging, a laptop, an internet connection, so anyone not producing or repairing those things are superfluous to you, which is actually the majority of humanity (even if you include infrastructure and supply chain). "Humanity" itself becomes a wasteful, carbon-emitting luxury you allow yourself for sentimental reasons.

Or you can be sentimental for practical reasons:

"Eliminating the middleman is never as simple as it sounds. ‘Bout 50% of the human race is middlemen, and they don’t take kindly to being eliminated."

-Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly)

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#20

Post by gr3yh47 »

Retric wrote: post #3

Retail is dependent on consumer spending. As more stores close the remainder should be more profitable, which should minimize ripple effects.

to take your statement a step further than just retail, I'll say that the entire economy is effectively largely dependent on people spending money. Which is why trickle-down economics has been not working at all for at least a few decades and yet somehow this is still the resoning for tax plans.

the idea being that the 1% who has 90% of the country's wealth needs a little more to create jobs (from thin air)

whereas the truth is that people spending money is what will create jobs

it's such a shame

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