Community Chat

[jlkz]

Driving around different places from Northern to Southern States, I was always amazed at the number of chain stores.    Eager after merger, more of the same stores.  I wondered how the economy could support them, as well as all the strip shopping centers.

Now with online shopping so prevalent, the scenery is changing.  Just this morning I read another chain is going bankrupt after a billion dollar acquisition:  Mattress Firm (who also owns Sleepy’s).  Almost 700 stores to be closed within the year.  A lot of folks will be job searching, a lot of families hurting.

Growth is important: somehow stability needs to be worked into the equation.

Just a sad commentary....

[Cakers3]

The owners of Mattress Firm have only themselves to blame for the downfall.

I agree that online buying has hurt b&m stores but MF opened stores practically next to each other in some locations; couple that with ill-planned sales and aquisitions the cracks in the foundation finally gave way.

I feel for those losing jobs.

[Sooner]

We have long talked about how many mattress shops of various names and brands could a town possibly have within two miles of us there are two Mattress Firms, one local brand, and one other one but I don't remember what its name is.

Now REALLY?  Simple mismanagement on the part of their execs to think that we need that many.  There are others all over town but literally within TWO miles of my house!

We have two CVS stores (one is packed day and night, the other one hardly ever many customers) within 3 miles.  One has to be on anticipation of growth because it is on the edge of the housing nearby.  

Banks?  There are banks on every corner not far from us either. 

I think a lot is that there are far more jobs in urban areas, and kids aren't so much going back to small towns to live now.  It's a different world.  When my parents were growing up there were little rural communities of maybe a few hundred people (if that) and a small mom and pop hardware/grocery/dry goods and animal feed store within a few miles and that was it.

[drizzellla]

Cakers and Sooner - You got that right!

Within 5 miles of my house there are 3 Mattress Firm stores. Two stores were built within the past 2 years. AND they are in the process of building another store in between Store #1 and Store # 2. 

[Mz iMac]

There are also WaWa & 7-11 stores on every corner.

[deepwaterdotter]

I wonder if younger (21-35 years old) consumers prefer the predictability and consistency of goods offered in the chain-store shopping experience.

[violet runner]

 I am an advocate for small businesses and shopping local if I can. But do also shop onlne. What you are describing has been in my thoughts too from time to time. I call those places , " Anywhere America" cause you can go  almost to any state and see the same stores and resturants .  And  in almost every city within that state. I think it's no surpise that stores close.  I do wonder if  it's a comfort to some people to see the same palces when they travel. For me personally I like what is unique about an area and what it  has to offer.

[AuntG]

Well managed stores will survive. Same holds true for restaurants. I'll go back, and even pay a little more, if the employees are helpful and the store is clean/ organized. 

[Snowpuppy]

The problem I have with cookie cutter stores are the empliyees there know nothing. And they don't care that they have no product knowledge.

[chrystaltree]

Online shopping probably isn't factor in this.  Most people do not purchase mattresses online.  Over saturation of the market did them in.  I'm always shocked at the number of mattress stores out there.  Big ones, small ones, chain stores, independant stores.  They are everywhere.  Also there are those new mattresses in a box that are becoming so popular now.