phil'spal

Red Friday: Coming to a Mall Near You

not every consumer is cash strapped. a lot of them however are in conservation and survival mode, bracing themselves for the possibility of things getting even worse. they're being a lot more careful with their cash than they have been in the past. retailers are going to have to offer more value for fewer dollars to turn shoppers into buyers. given that situation, it's going to be a buyer's market for the holiday season, particularly in the discretionary product. if a retailer isnt willing to offer the deals, he'll be giving up the sales. retailers wont want to be stuck with a lot of inventory and payables in the new year. some may panic. some may slash just to keep the cash flow going. we could be in for some crazy price wars in some retail sectors. stronger players will survive, but the weak sisters who cant afford the profit compression could be shaken out.