So corporate has decided no more risers for some stores this christmas

[TwixVoy]

So today corporate has decided that many stores in the company won't use risers this year.

For those who don't know what a riser is - it's basically an extra high shelf (which requires a ladder to reach) in which extra product is stocked on the sales floor. They get installed on to every aisle during christmas and are taken down after the holidays. This accomplishes two things - ONE it allows for more room in the backroom for extra product, and TWO during the christmas madness it allows for product to be put back on the shelf much faster because you just have to get a ladder and move it down to the lower shelves instead of having to go and find it in the backroom.

I've asked another person I work with in management if he can remember us ever NOT having risers during christmas, and in over 15 years with the company he has never seen corporate instruct stores not to use risers.

This means corporate is planning for us to receive much less product this year, and expecting us to sell much less.

Now this isn't very surprising of course, but I find it interesting there is such a difference in the picture the media is painting about us and the reality inside. The media is saying we are one of the only retailers doing well (which has been keeping the stock price good...), yet corporate is constantly making cuts to everything. Sales are in the toilet, yet the media says everything is great. Very interesting.

[4 t 4]

1. You know this is the first time I

have even thought about Christmas. But yea Merry fucking X-mas to the merikan people!!

[napi21]

2. I think most people already know this is not going to be a good retail season.

When "back to school" fell apart, and the economy just got worse, you'd have to be an idiot to believe the media! At least the retailers seem to be recognizing reality and not stocking up on inventory they know won't sell!

I'm wondering what they're going to do with "sale prices"? Aare they figuring that people who are going to still buy are going to just have to pay THEIR price for what's available, or are they still going to try to steal customers from their competition by running a few items at a GREAT PRICE to get people in their store?

[countryjake]

4. Their solution is to start Xmas early, discount sales are already on...

with reductions featuring as much as 60% off in some stores.

It ain't gonna be any holiday for many retailers this year.

[napi21]

5. I know I received a Christmas catalog in the mail A MONTH AGO!

I laughed, because it was only the end of August! It's still on my coffee table, but I didn't order anything and probably won't!

[countryjake]

7. Friend of mine at a Big Box store said Xmas stuff went onto shelves...

that they'd just taken Labor Day coolers and briquettes and BBQ forks off of. About one-third the space normally devoted to Halloween has been advanced to Christmas, early, this year.

[Sherman A1]

3. It's going to be a tough year

Every year at the store where I work, we have Santa for a few hours on Christmas eve for photos with the kids (I am the guy behind the camera). A tradition that has been some 20+ years. I was talking with the new manager today and it's up in the air right now as to if this event occurs or not. But instructions are from corporate not to spend any money that isn't necessary. I have seen the number of deliveries reduced by vendors over the last year as they try to find ways to cut costs, routes combined and folks trying to come up with every idea imaginable to cut costs. It's going to be ugly, me thinks.

[countryjake]

6. Many retailers will not be doing much Holiday Hiring this year, either.

Holiday Hiring Market Very Tight in 2008
http://www.pr-inside.com/holiday-hiring-market-very-tight-in-r834353.htm

Retailers seen cutting holiday hiring
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN1517905220080915

"With profits already getting squeezed, most retailers are going to be reluctant to take on the additional cost of extra staffing," said John Challenger, the consulting firm's CEO.