Something to contemplate

R. H. Macy’s name has survived bankruptcy, acquisition and merger. But, Abraham & Straus, Bamberger’s, Block’s, Bonwit Teller, Broadway, Bullock’s, Burdine’s, Dayton’s, Famous Barr, Filene’s, Foley’s, Frederick & Nelson, Gimbel’s, Goldwater’s, Hecht’s, Hudson’s, I. Magnin, Jacobson’s, Kaufmann’s, Lazarus, Liberty House, Lit Brothers, Lord & Taylor, Maas Bros., Marshall Field’s, Meier & Frank, Pogue’s, Rich’s, Rike’s, Robinson’s, Shillito’s, Strawbridge’s, Stern’s, Thalhimer’s, Wanamaker’s, Wasson’s, Woodward & Lothrop and dozens of other big department store names are history.

Who will dominate retail in the years ahead? No one knows for sure, but WalMart, Lowes, Sears, Penneys, Target, Kohls and several others have definite plans. Home Depot has acquired Chem Dry which may bring change to our industry. Large corporations have trouble reversing their field or making quick adjustments in policy which explains in part why they are so vulnerable and so many disappear from the business scene.

As the dramatic shifts in the retail landscape continue, we’d better stay loose while the big guys beat up on each another.

Fall 2008
Cleaning Digest™
INDEX