STORES Magazine - July 2008 - (Page T4)

2OO8 • TOP 1OO retailers Sponsored by Retailers are eternally optimistic: Why bother to open the shop door otherwise? That’s why the most successful retailers are the ones that keep planning for a better day. To wit: Wal-Mart continues its “green,” organic and natural initiatives, all the while reaping benefits from its everyday low-price strategy in a tight economy. In the same vein, Kroger knows people have to eat no matter the economic environment, so its customers won’t be abandoning it anytime soon, especially since the supermarket chain was among a handful of retailers offering shoppers a bonus if they were willing to convert their tax POWER PLAYERS refund or stimulus checks into Kroger gift cards. The 2008 version of the STORES Top 100 Retailers study reflects many of the changes that will ultimately define this era. For the first time, the retailing of digital downloads and personal telecommunications devices by nontraditional retailers are included. Technology companies such as Dell, Apple and its iTunes Store are represented, as are wireless communications providers and handset sellers Verizon and AT&T. Wal-Mart remains the No. 1 retailer by revenues — a position it isn’t likely to cede any time soon as it alone ac- • APPAREL retailers his current calendar year has not been kind to apparel retailers, who had reason for high hopes coming off a 2007 in which clothing sales of all sorts increased nearly across the board. Total apparel sales rose 3 percent last year to just under $200 billion, led by children’s clothing (6 percent gain) and menswear (4 percent), according to market research firm NPD Group. Dresses for women and girls and dress-up looks for men (suits, tailored clothing) were the big movers, notes Marshal Cohen, NPD’s chief industry analyst for apparel. Results-bred optimism faded faster than a knockoff T-shirt, however. Fashion retailers began marking down spring and summer garments as early as March, and fall merchandise began showing up in stores prior to Memorial Day weekend. This drop in consumer demand has been a boon for off-pricers like Ross Stores, which operates the Dress for Less chain, but middle-of-the-road retailers like Gap have found the going pretty rough. Gap sales fell 4.8 percent in the first quarter as same-store sales dropped 11 percent across Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic units. During one four-week period this spring, Old Navy’s comps plunged 27 percent. T 89 Company Gap Limited Brands Ross Stores Abercrombie & Fitch Burlington Coat Factory American Eagle Outfitters Charming Shoppes AnnTaylor Talbots The Children’s Place Men’s Wearhouse Polo Ralph Lauren Stores Chico’s FAS L.L. Bean Aéropostale 2007 Revenues (000) $15,763,000 10,134,205 5,975,212 3,749,847 3,393,000 3,055,419 3,009,953 2,396,510 2,289,296 2,162,559 2,112,558 1,912,600 1,714,326 1,620,000 1,590,883 ComparableStore Sales -4.0% -2.0 1.0 -1.0 -5.2 1.0 -5.0 -3.3 -5.7* 2.0 -0.4** 8.9 -8.1 N.A. 3.3 Sales per Store $4,977,266 3,463,501 7,130,325 3,647,711 8,546,599 3,243,545 1,249,462 2,579,666 1,630,872 1,745,407 1,659,511 6,110,541 1,651,566 10,800,000 1,921,356 * Does not include J.Jill ** Men’s Wearhouse stores only N.A. Not available T4 STORES / JULY 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of STORES Magazine - July 2008

STORES Magazine - July 2008 Contents Executive Editor's Page President's Page Dearth of Retail Creativity What Shoppers Think Wow, Is That a Wawa? 10 Things You May Have Missed Numbers Worth Counting Full Price/Markdown Retail People Merchandising Strategy Concept2Watch Point of Sale Outsourcing Human Resources Top 100 Retailers Store Design RFID IT Operations Systems Managements LP Vantage Point Newsbeat Cover Story Emergency Response Systems Background Checks LOEB Retail Letter Point of View NRF News Retail Crossword Retail Industry Calendar Last Laugh

STORES Magazine - July 2008

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