"I think it's a shame what has happened to Sears. I think a retailer could have turned around Sears but it was a financial guy making the decisions and he kept selling off parts and closing stores until there is pretty much nothing left."
There is certainly some truth to this, however by the time the 'financial guy' gets involved the business is typically already weak (due to mis management, slow/bad business decisions, changing business environment, etc.) and in a situation where selling off assets or business units, along w/ the usual drastic cost cutting, is the last option to raise the capital necessary to invest in remaking the business in an attempt at saving what is left. Sometimes it works and the business is saved or remade, sometimes it doesn't...either way the 'finance guy' usually gets paid well and that is not always right.
Seen both sides of this and it is never pretty.
I have fond memories of my Grandfather having his car serviced at Sears and wandering around the tool section while waiting. Sadly, Sears time appears to have come and gone; prices not competitive w/ Walmart, not premium enough to be upscale, home specialty stores ate the tool and homeowner business. Basically, there was very little reason left to go there and their web store wasn't great.
There is certainly some truth to this, however by the time the 'financial guy' gets involved the business is typically already weak (due to mis management, slow/bad business decisions, changing business environment, etc.) and in a situation where selling off assets or business units, along w/ the usual drastic cost cutting, is the last option to raise the capital necessary to invest in remaking the business in an attempt at saving what is left. Sometimes it works and the business is saved or remade, sometimes it doesn't...either way the 'finance guy' usually gets paid well and that is not always right.
Seen both sides of this and it is never pretty.
I have fond memories of my Grandfather having his car serviced at Sears and wandering around the tool section while waiting. Sadly, Sears time appears to have come and gone; prices not competitive w/ Walmart, not premium enough to be upscale, home specialty stores ate the tool and homeowner business. Basically, there was very little reason left to go there and their web store wasn't great.