Are department stores feeling an economic pinch? Shoppers may be ditching them for discount chains.
Are fears of a recession sending you into a shopping funk? Are you skipping the traditional department stores like Macy’s and Nordstrom in favor discount chains like TJ Maxx and Marshalls? A recent USA Today article says yes. In fact all retailers experienced a dismal January. The International Council of Shopping Centers states January was the worst month for stores since 1970.
I, like a lot of people do a little of both. I shop at Macy’s and Nordstrom when they have really great sales. (Nordstrom’s shoes are to die for!) But you can’t beat TJ Maxx and Marshall’s for every day savings. The problem with those stores is, you really have to go there every week to find great stuff. They keep getting new inventory in, and every shopping experience is hit or miss for me. I really don’t have time to get to them that often. But I do like to shop at Sam’s Club. And I have been known to find really cute sweaters and shoes there for ridiculous prices. The problem? There’s no dressing room. The shopping experience isn’t quite the same when you’re searching for trash bags and suddenly you see a great pair of sandals.
There is a time and place for department stores.
