How much longer before Wal-Mart takes over?

[HoJofan206]

I seriously am concerned about the fact that if things continue the way they are that Wal-Mart will pretty much run everyone else in the department store segment out of business.  It seems that only Target has been able to compete with Wal-Mart.  Mostly because Target "targets" a different demographic of customers than Wal-Mart.  It is not a good thing for consumers to only have 1 or 2 choices.

[HoJofan206]

K-Mart is a distant 3rd in the department store niche.  Is there even a sizable #4?  If so, who was it.  I have heard that Ames was the 4th largest department store chain when they closed down a few years back.

[Zayre88]

I remember to have read an article about retail with a guy from the financial world saying:  "in the retail world, if you're not 1st or 2nd in your niche, go find another niche or go away"  

If you look at it, retail is looking pretty much like that today. Department store, home improvement, office supply, pet supply, books & music, warehouse clubs, bed & bath, sporting goods...

In these categories, you have no more than 2 or 3 leaders.  Every stores that were 3rd or lower ranked are gone or in trouble !  

Wal-Mart / Target
Home Depot / Lowe's
Staples / Office Max / Office Depot
Petco / Pet Quarters
Barnes & Noble / Borders
Sam's Club / Costco / Bj's
Linens'n Things / Bed Bath & Beyond
Sports Authority / Dick's sporting goods

What do you think ? Discuss

[Caldor1999]

i read in a acrtile that wal marts trying to go upscail there loosing costmers because of Target and Bed Bath & Beyond they tryed a prodo type store but it didsent seem to actrack more costmers so i there started and Slow and Painful Death it will take some time before we see some changes happen mean while Target is doing so well and there stores are not so BIG and cold like Wal Mart and i can see why they are doing such good bizz

[HoJofan206]

I like the Wal-Mart prices, but Target is a much cleaner store to shop and and the merchandise is a bit better so I dont mint paying a little more.  

Poor K-Mart is left to pick up what Wal-Mart leaves behind.
Target stores were very smart to realize that they could not go toe to toe with Wal-Mart so they went for a bit more upscale market and it has obviously worked!  :cool:

[76&AmesfanmanBBTB]

Originally posted by HoJofan206
I like the Wal-Mart prices, but Target is a much cleaner store to shop and and the merchandise is a bit better so I dont mint paying a little more.  

Poor K-Mart is left to pick up what Wal-Mart leaves behind.
Target stores were very smart to realize that they could not go toe to toe with Wal-Mart so they went for a bit more upscale market and it has obviously worked!  :cool:

Yes and their commercials are something else!:yup:

Much interesting they use music and visuals of their products  not prices to attract customers and it works!:yup: