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Department stores have lost more jobs than coal mines
Department stores have lost more jobs than coal mines
America's long-standing love affair with shopping at malls and department stores may be nearing an end.
"The traditional mall as we know it is doomed," said according to Greg Portell, a retail consultant at A.T. Kearney. "When was the last time a mall closed that people missed, other than the people who worked there?"
And retail workers are taking a huge hit.
Between 2001 and 2016, jobs at traditional department stores fell 46%, according to Labor Department data.
That's a much steeper drop than other troubled industries. For example, coal mining jobs dropped 32% during the same 15 years. Factory employment fell 25%.
About 60% of department store employees are female, compared to 47% of workers overall. Minorities, the elderly and teenagers are also far more likely to find jobs in department and discount stores than they are elsewhere. Teenagers hold 8% of department store jobs, compared to 3% of jobs overall.
"For the young, it's a rite of passage in learning how to work, how to deal with customers," said Amanda Nicholson, professor of retail practice at Syracuse University.
We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists.
- tennyson
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Re: Department stores have lost more jobs than coal mines
There is a huge trend towards shopping online. That trend CAN save money and travel, but on the downside it leaves a consumer without the ability (if it runs its course) to not be able to get expert advice on a product or touch and feel it prior to purchase. Can retailers some how adapt to this new environment ? It will be their challenge in the coming years how to offer service and yet remain competitive.
Have any of you found any retail outlets that have methods to remain effective vs the Amazons of the world.
"Do not confuse motion and progress, A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress"
- Rongone
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Re: Department stores have lost more jobs than coal mines
tennyson wrote:
There is a huge trend towards shopping online. That trend CAN save money and travel, but on the downside it leaves a consumer without the ability (if it runs its course) to not be able to get expert advice on a product or touch and feel it prior to purchase. Can retailers some how adapt to this new environment ? It will be their challenge in the coming years how to offer service and yet remain competitive.
Have any of you found any retail outlets that have methods to remain effective vs the Amazons of the world.
Outlet Malls.
Big retail malls, like Galleria Malls, have gone out of favor (except for old foggies like myself who go there as mall walkers) because 25 years ago, when they were at the height of their popularity, developers built them everywhere . . . just look at York with a half dozen malls within 10 square miles of each other. There just weren't enough shoppers to support all the stores. The other factor was that anchor stores began to lose favor with shoppers due to price fixing, false 'sales', and bad management. Once the anchor stores bailed on the mall, the smaller stores couldn't draw the required number of shopper to support their smaller enterprises. Yes, online shopping cut into their customer base, but even those retail stores that opted for an online presence could not attract new customers.
Outlet malls draw people because of reduced pricing, even though the merchandise offered is last year's model or a discontinued item. I believe people still like the fact that they can see, touch, try on the store offering and still pay a reduced price.
Sam's club doesn't do too badly either. Even though you have to pay an annual membership fee, you can save some money. The drawback is the quantities of some of their offerings are excessive for two retired people, but a family of four or more, or a small restaurant owner the larger quantities suffice for their needs. For my wife and I, the money we save on prescription co-pays makes it worthwhile.