October Sales Spooky for Some but Not All
By George Anderson
By most accounts, this year’s Halloween sales were no treat for retailers. October wasn’t all tricks, however, as a number of retailers reported sales increases above expectations.
Among those treated to year-over-year same store and total sales gains were J.C. Penney, The Gap, Nordstrom, and Men’s Wearhouse.
Those who went home with their sacks not nearly filled enough were Sears, Saks and Abercrombie & Fitch.
Moderator’s Comment: What is your assessment of what
happened with retail sales in October? Do these numbers have any implications
for the month’s ahead?
Coming under the heading of ‘we wish we wrote that’ is
the following lead from Abigail Goldman of the Los Angeles Times.
“Just weeks after taking the top job at Gap Inc., Chief Executive Paul Pressler
already can take credit for at least one brilliant decision: signing on when
he did.” Gap same store sales were up for the first time in over two years.
[George
Anderson – Moderator]