What is Kmart really good at?

I think Kmart would do well to send Martha Stewart to Sears. Her products seem to fit better there. Maybe Jacklyn Smith can tag along. I also think Kmart needs to send Craftsman back to Sears stores. Maybe they can start their own brand, such as Kraftsman. (it was a joke)

I was in two different Kmart stores this past weekend (Woodhaven & Monroe).Both were empty. The Monroe store looked like it belonged in a third world country - inside and out. If they're not planning to close that store soon, I would be surprised. It looked so worn out. I feel for the employees. A little paint would go a long way.

The Woodhaven store is in one of the most retail populated areas in downriver, yet it's always empty. I'm never parked more than 5 spots from the front of the store. That store used to dominate the area. Then Meijer move in across the street. Then Target. Then Wal-mart. Poor Kmart did all of the homework and the other stores are reaping the rewards.

K Mart is good at having things like Martha Stewart for a reasonable price!  And yes, it found some wonderful locations before the Walmarts and Targets of the world moved in.  But as I have been saying, in rural areas, those bigger stores are not bothering to move in and K Mart is the only store.  It is the life saver of the economy in those places. 

In our house we have a weekend split between the K Mart and the Walmart lovers.  We have one car and it will not go both ways.  K Mart is closer but it does not have a craft section or at least not one that has everything that the Walmart lovers want.  You also know that you will not be out all day at K Mart.  The Walmart people are in for a full day because it has it all and is crowded thus the K Mart people who I say have a life and do not want to shop from dawn till dusk, and do not like the over crowding and the roughness that can be found at Walmart. 

K Mart people have choices just like Walmart people.  We do not like lines.  We do not like to have to stay in the store a long time.  We do not like crowds around us.  There is quality at K Mart. 

Do you think Kmart appreciates the empty stores as much as you? They had better get a little more crowded or there won't be any anywhere.

I'm curious as to how an empty Kmart is a "life saver of the economy" in any place.

everything! ENOUGH SAID

Amen get rid of Martha stewart all togther..shes not exclusive anymore ( kamrt, walmart,micheals,macys) so no biggie why pay her to use her name...issue a similar line for less with a new inhouse name..does anyone really buy j.smith? yes send her to sears. Craftsman should go, stop turning Kmart into sears lite. Kmart actually has the lead to have its own identity than the watered down don't know if we are soft or hard or sell tires or undies or what we are sears.

I agree with ace1210


ace1210 said…

I think Kmart would do well to send Martha Stewart to Sears. Her products seem to fit better there. Maybe Jacklyn Smith can tag along. I also think Kmart needs to send Craftsman back to Sears stores. Maybe they can start their own brand, such as Kraftsman. (it was a joke)

I was in two different Kmart stores this past weekend (Woodhaven & Monroe).Both were empty. The Monroe store looked like it belonged in a third world country - inside and out. If they're not planning to close that store soon, I would be surprised. It looked so worn out. I feel for the employees. A little paint would go a long way.

The Woodhaven store is in one of the most retail populated areas in downriver, yet it's always empty. I'm never parked more than 5 spots from the front of the store. That store used to dominate the area. Then Meijer move in across the street. Then Target. Then Wal-mart. Poor Kmart did all of the homework and the other stores are reaping the rewards.

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Not good at anything yet becuase they haven't established there own identity or atleast furthered it and polished it..commercials are nice but when people go to the stores they don't live up to the prospects of the commercials.

I wish Kmart would have the food court in the back of the store like they used to. As a baby boomer, I always remember going to the Woolworth's, and Kmart as well as the Red Tie, eating a good old cheeseburger, then walking thru the store and shopping. I used to do this with my kids on a Saturday. This was our big day out. We would grab a bite to eat, then walk thru the store looking around at items. It was a really nice outing  and bonding for me and my two children. You could not get me into a mall, and only a walmart at 2 or 3am if I had to go.

My kids, to this day, feel the same way as I do. Kmart always had items that could be afforded by the general public, and, had things no other store would carry.

I really feel, the old time food courts within the stores such as Kmart, would make a good comeback, again because of use baby boomers. The nostalgia is big. We remember good days of our childhood. I would patronize stores such as these long before I would any other. Martha Stewart, J. Smith, etc., I could care less. I just want affordability and convience, and a good experience on my visit.

Another great post I support..lots of people want a better K cafe (KAFE?) stop with the circus food already...it really should'nt take this much time to get small changes implemented. Its almost like the government that has to set up a committee to study something and by the time they finish studying it - its too late to act.





bluedakota49 said…

I wish Kmart would have the food court in the back of the store like they used to. As a baby boomer, I always remember going to the Woolworth's, and Kmart as well as the Red Tie, eating a good old cheeseburger, then walking thru the store and shopping. I used to do this with my kids on a Saturday. This was our big day out. We would grab a bite to eat, then walk thru the store looking around at items. It was a really nice outing  and bonding for me and my two children. You could not get me into a mall, and only a walmart at 2 or 3am if I had to go.

My kids, to this day, feel the same way as I do. Kmart always had items that could be afforded by the general public, and, had things no other store would carry.

I really feel, the old time food courts within the stores such as Kmart, would make a good comeback, again because of use baby boomers. The nostalgia is big. We remember good days of our childhood. I would patronize stores such as these long before I would any other. Martha Stewart, J. Smith, etc., I could care less. I just want affordability and convience, and a good experience on my visit.

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Welcome back, Retailman!!

Thank you Michelina I appreciaite the support on this board now if "corpoarate" will show some love that would be great. I see an idea of mine has been used in store....a
coincidence? .........Hmmm, I think not. Thank you though for your messages and support.

 

I agree with bluedakota49 100%. I also remember the lay-a-way K-Mart used to have. When my children were small it was easier to put things on lay-a-way, and pay a long the way until the due date. I had all of their gifts before Christmas and never had to worry. And with 5 small children at the time, it was a life saver. I also remember the food court, I could stop there and take a break, have coffee, something to eat and relax. Also K-Mart had alot more in the stores at affordable prices. I do see alot of Martha Stewart and J. Smith now. And some K-Marts seem alot emptier then they used to.  I liked K-mart the way it used to be.

With the current economic crisis gripping the nation, lay-away plans might become very important to consumers and retailers. I've noticed Kmart touting it's lay-away program recently. For once I think they're making a smart marketing move and should capitalize on it further. It's better than credit because there aren't any interest charges, albeit a little patience is necessary. If I were marketing for Kmart, I would take this concept to the next level. Have ads that educate a little. Show how much an item would cost using a credit card with payments versus how much the item would cost using a lay-away plan.

I admit to being a little surprised at how many people feel the same as I do about the Martha Stewart, Jacklyn Smith, etc. lines that Kmart has tied itself to. Going in that direction changed the whole feel of Kmart (evidently to more people than just me). I'm sure that the intent was to take Kmart to the next level, but it's Kmart we're talking about, not JCPenney, not Target, not Kohl's, not Sears even. Kmart should have stayed focused on it's base. You can bet that Kmart was one of the competitors that Wal-Mart has paid close attention to. For Kmart to survive, it needs to return to it's discount retailer status. That's where it's real success came from in the past.

I like K-Mart over all. Anything I buy that might have a problem I buy at K-Mart cause they back their things up. I'd rather buy something at K-Mart than go to Wal-Mart even if Wally world might have it a few cents cheaper. I used to like a buy a lot of the Bench Top tools K-Mart used to cell. I felt they were as good as Craftsman, and a lot cheaper to buy.

I wish our K-mart store (Freeport, Illinois) would have a larger "grocery" department. It's convenient for getting "extra" items without going to another store. Sale prices in this department are good, regular prices are a little high, but I like to support a company (Sears) that's been around since the 1800's.

I wish our K-mart store (Raleigh, NC) would have employees!!!!!  Most of the time you have to check out either at the pharmacy or the service desk.  Maybe they need to tear down the building and replace it with a Target store.

Why Target?

Just after writing about the lay-a way plan K-mart used to have, they started it soon after I wrote. I am so happy to see it up and running again. I have alot on  the lay- a way as I have so many Grandchildren and family to buy for. So I was there to do that as soon as i could. The people who work there are very helpful, the store is well stocked and somewhat the way i remember it. I was very pleased with the deals I got and did almost all of my shopping.

Great to hear TouchofLace!