Company Background Of Kirkland's ( Nasdaq )

Stephen B. Huttie, president of Wooster-based Crown Retail Consultants, said nationally, the retail industry is “over-stored.” So, the news about Kohl’s closing stores is not surprising. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. closed 154 stores in the United States in

Market expansion openings include Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Pennsylvania. Kohl 's stock splits two for one in April. The company adds a fourth distribution center in Blue Springs, Mo., and an e-commerce fulfillment center in Monroe, Ohio. 2001 Kohl 's expands into the Southeast region of the United States with new stores in Atlanta. The company extends its expansion into the South Central United States with stores in Oklahoma City, Austin, Fayetteville and El Paso. Kohl 's fifth distribution center opens in Corsicana, Texas. And in 2002 Kohl’s opens its first stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The company also adds stores in Houston. In total, Kohl’s opens 75 stores in 2002. (Kohl’s Corporation, 2013, Press Room)

Kirkland’s Inc. and Pier 1 Imports are among the major players represented in the retail home décor industry, where there is a constant demand to provide the right merchandising mix and marketing program for consumer attraction. However, in recent years there has been a decline in the retail home décor industry. Consumers have cut spending in anticipation of the continuing rise in gas prices, unemployment rates, interest rates, consumer debt and taxation. In the midst of a sluggish, unstable economy, both companies struggle to be profitable. In addition, the increased consumer spending in the fourth quarter for both companies does not

In 1883, Bernard Kroger, who is Kroger Company’s owner, opened the Great Western Tea Company in Cincinnati when he was 22. In 1902, the company became Kroger Grocery and Baking Company after growing to 40 stores in different cities like Cincinnati and northern Kentucky. The company continued growing thorough buying smaller, cash-strapped companies. Moreover, in the late 1920s, the company gained Piggly Wiggly stores, and in early 1940s, the company bought most of the Piggly Wiggly stock. In 1929, the chain reached its greatest number of stores which is 5,575. The company continued buying other stores. After that, the company started opening bigger stores in 1971. In 1987, Kroger sold most of its interests in the Hook and SupeRx drug chains and started focusing on its food and drug stores. Furthermore, Kroger announced that it was purchasing around 75 store (mostly in Texas). Not only Kroger was buying food stores in Texas, but also in Virginia, Nebraska, and New Mexico, which happened around 2000 and 2001. In 2003, Kroger announced Naturally preferred, its own brad products which include baby food, pastas, cereal, snacks, milk, and soy products (Company History-Hoover’s, 2016).

In 2002, Lowe’s opened 123 new stores in metropolitan areas with emphasis on populations greater than 500,000. Their opening plan includes two prototypes: 116,000 square-foot store to serve large markets and 94,000 square-foot store to serve small market.

They currently operate approximately 2,248 stores in the U.S., including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. There are stores in ten Canadian provinces, 85 stores in Mexico, and eight stores in four Chinese cities. The Home Depot has 48 specialty stores-including, 34 Expo Design Centers, five Northern California Yardbirds stores, two stand-alone Design Centers, and seven-unit HD Bath remodeling business (The Home Depot, 2011).

Kroger has a special personalization with their customers which is a key to the competitive advantage for Kroger.

The Kroger Company uses the broad differentiation strategy. They have business in at least eight different market segments. They operate two thousand, two hundred and fifty-five stores across America and operate under twenty four banners. Their market position ranks among the highest in the nation. They also have a strong bargaining power because of their many endeavors into different market areas. Kroger supermarkets have been in business for one hundred thirty four years and have made a substantial contribution to the business world (Annual report, 2017).

The Kroger Company grew in 128 years from one store to over 3,500 stores of various banners and products. The Kroger Company is the largest food and drug retailer in the United States and is growing constantly with diversity in the retail market, dealing in food, pharmacies, apparel, jewelry and fuel. Kroger is governed by a 14 member Board of Directors including a Chief Executive Officer. Kroger is a leader in Corporate Social responsibility by maintaining environmental consciousness, social awareness and energy conservation awareness. Kroger is committed to customers, builds diversity and focuses on growth. The company operates a large part of it’s own manufacturing and distribution to increase profit

Due to slow sales and less traffic at both Sears and Kmart, the two have decided to merge creating one entity named Sears Holdings. Kmart has agreed to buy Sears for $11 Billion. This puts Sears Holdings at the third largest retailer behind Wal-Mart and Home Depot. Although Wal-Mart is a direct competitor with Kmart, Sears Holdings goal is not to compete with Wal-Mart directly, but find areas that have been overlooked by other retailers, and take advantage of the expanded line of products the new company has to offer. Sears has had higher sales than Kmart, so hundreds of Kmart’s will be transformed into Sears stores. As of now, most of Sears 870 stores are only found in malls. The new strategy would be to open Sears stores in current

This program saw 400 stores close and lead to over $100 million in benefits. The company will also close over 300 stores in the next few years, further helping to alleviate unnecessary costs.

a. Number of stores: In 1992 the company had about 140 stores in the Northwest and Chicago areas. By 2002 the company had approximately 5,886

The brand expanded into Canada after receiving success in America, and later opened their first store outside of America on December 2008 in London. They have expanded from one location, to now having five hundred and seventy eight locations across the globe.

The Company currently offers over 6,000 products in these product categories. During fiscal 2000, the Company increased its store count by approximately 15%, with the addition of 47 new stores, including nine small-market stores and, as of December 2000, was operating more than 400 stores in 41 states. The Company anticipates opening approximately 60 stores in fiscal 2001.

In 1897 Sebastian Spering Kresge opened five-dime stores in Memphis and Detroit with John McCrorey as his partner. Two years later the partnership broke up and each person kept one city. Mr. Kresge kept the Detroit store and began expanding from there onward. In 1912 the company became incorporated as S.S. Kresge and was the 2nd largest dime store chain with 85 stores and annual sales of more than $10 million. In 1918 S.S Kresge was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Throughout the decades, Kresge rapidly expanded eventually opening the first Kmart store in 1962 in Garden City, Michigan. By 1966 there were more 160 Kmart stores in the US and Canada. In 1968 Kmart began airing TV commercials. In the 1970s, Kmart continued to expand