Berna Barshay on activist pressure on retailers

Companies have spent a ton of time and effort to get e-commerce operations in alignment with bricks-and-mortar stores when it comes to marketing and customer experience because they know it is the best way to build customer loyalty and increase share of wallet.  Why un-do all this work, work that was grounded in good corporate strategy… whether we are talking about Kohl’s, Macy’s, or any other company.

~ Berna Barshay, retail expert at Empire Financial Research, "Kohl’s, Guess and other consumer companies are facing off with activist investors. One expert says it’s a signal of optimism," MarketWatch.com, April 12, 2022

Berna Barshay on difficult environment for retailers

Retail, as measured by the SPDR S&P Retail Fund (XRT) is the worst performing sector this year, down 32% year to date – even worse than tech, as measured by the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK). Take a look...

It has been the hardest operating environment for retail planners and buyers in the 24 years I have been following this. Between the supply chain clogs – which are still there, rapidly shifting consumer preferences, inflation, a hazy economic outlook, and consumers shifting their purchase timing... it's easy to get tripped up.

So while it is tempting to cast stones at planners for not doing better, and the stocks have been terrible, I think there are incredible bargains to be had not only at the mall later this summer... but right now in the stock market.

~ Berna Barshay, "Explaining the Retailer Inventory Glut," Empire Financial Research, June 22, 2022