Retail aint doing good at all in 2017

Lowe's to sell Craftsman tools, broadening distribution beyond Sears

An update on Craftsmen Tools.

 

Then there's this

 

They shut down and closed the Big K in my town(Fitchburg,Massachusetts) about 2 months ago. I’ll take a couple photos when I get back home. Good thing Twin City Plaza has plenty of retail shops and a couple restaurants to help keep it afloat.

 

Craftsman tools was a brand Sears created.

At first, it was a brand only sold through Sears stores although Sears did not of course make the tools. They had the manufacture contracted out to different manufactures over the years.

In 2000s they started allowing other stores like Ace to sell Craftsman. A bad move for them.

As of 2 years ago, the Craftsman name has been sold to Stanly/Proto (Challenger, Blackhawk). Sears can still sell the tools but after some 5-7years they will have no say in the name what-so-ever.

 

Always liked the....free lifetime replacement ...Craftsman tools had

 

But they plan to open 280 new stores this year and next.

 

In this area Walmart has been losing customers for
a while now......Target has taken some of them.

Walmart has been trying to "remake" their image a little.
They are pushing the pharmacy and various other services
like eye glass centers......our local one offers a bank inside the
store now. Truly a one stop shop.....get your money and spend
in one place.

They have also been pushing the "Made in America" products
a lot harder. The local one here actually offers some pretty good
quality stuff.......they seam to be getting away from being the
cheapest.

Latest thing that I don't like is the "self-checkout" thing.
I may be old fashioned but I prefer a real checkout counter with
a friendly face taking my money......does my heart good to
see folks still working for a living......and I am more than happy
to help support them by refusing to use the "self-checkout".