Baby Steps
Baby Steps
There was encouraging news coming out of the recent round of quarterly earnings reports as several retailers pointed to improving business in the home department.
JCPenney hailed bedding and bath as leaders in the home department. Macy's home business was "very strong," TJX Cos. said the HomeGoods division was a big winner.
Home was also strong at Ross and Stein Mart - the latter coming as significant after last year's struggles with the department. And at Williams-Sonoma, nearly every division exceeded expectations during the first quarter, with home textiles among the star categories at three nameplates.
News on the pricing front was more of mixed bag. Target, Ross and Stein Mart copped to bigger price increases coming in the second half. Cost Plus copped to de-specing, in way, telling analysts it's working to re-develop its textiles to meet price points. (I suspect that would be developing down.)
Macy's said most of its pricing tests have done all right, with the most resistance coming in moderate categories. Walmart, predictably, vowed it would be the last retailer in the universe to raise prices.
Interestingly, Williams-Sonoma - which has been investing its boffo earnings into advancing ecommerce and social network marketing - was asked if it would raise prices to offset the investment by fattening margin. Executives said it would not.
Companies that had lousy quarters blamed the weather and the economy. Companies that had good quarters said they're still worried about the economy.
It appears the business is inching back, if only in baby steps.
Sweetta commented:
Megan !This beautiful piece of art is your macirle .. the beginning of a new life! Congratulations! Enjoy each day .. don't loose a moment of the excitment, joy and happiness of one tiny, tiny beautiful little blessed infant .. she's a real person already! My wishes for much happiness and good health for the three of you ..I thank Alexandra for keeping me posted on the girls I had learned to love and adore thruout your childhood, and adusthood .. thank you for sharing beautiful Jennifer with me .. God bless you ..A reminder .. Giovanna as you know is better known as Alexandra's Mama G and until this day AND all the tomorrows she will always be my very special loving Princess, my Alexandra. I do miss her so .. but each night I hold her so dear to me ..I just know you are learning that feeling already, having Jennifer .. each day your love will be more glorious than yesterday .. more greater tomorrow .. how wonderful for all the mysteries of life the tomorrows will bring ..Love you a bunch, Meggan .. always g xoxo
Pecci commented:
also, i completely agree with your phiplsoohy, as does my mom. i grew up using our family's vintage silver. people would come over and couldn't believe it, but my mom thought there's no point in owning it if we don't use it! it really made the silver forks and knives a part of our lives instead of something metal that sat in a cabinet. and whenever i use them i think about my family long ago!
Carolina commented:
i would never do this but i have a septum pireicng and there is absolutly nothing wrong with in plus little billy is in control of his own body maybe not when hes young but at some point parents have to understand that if billy wants a pireicng it is way better to go to a professional that knows what they are doing then refusing to accept it and billy running off with a friend to some nonsterile enviroment and doing it himself
