Obviously retail is taking a big hit on two sides- it's not just traffic in stores are down and there are all kinds of super sales to drive people in (sometimes people will spend more than they woudl have but usually people just end up buying more and spending about what they would have for fewer items).

We are also facing a shortage of merchandise. The way our store will front load us with a lot of stuff and send "mid season" stuff and refills on things we normally sell or big sellers for the season. But when it's slow we get at least one truck a week.

Right now we are getting 1 truck about every other week. And for weeks we didn't get anything in. Right after we opened they pretty much cleared the warehouses of everything.

The last week in June we finally were able to get a decent amount of Red White and blue stuff but we had nothing for Memorial Day. We didn't get the majority of stuff we get for the summer. We've had to empty our stock rooms to make the store look full and now we are down to rearranging fixtures and spacing things out more and in some areas, like the kitchen department , it's just.. bare shelves and there is nothing more to pull out.

Since we were closed for Easter and most of the prom/formal season didn't happen instead of clearancing out all of that we have wrapped up the clothes and have them in stockrooms (which we have room for since we lack backstock) and are holding it for next year.

We are getting a truck about every other week and some of the smaller stores have gotten a full truck of inventory ONCE since March.

So production is down in a lot of places and that means loss of sales since we don't have product.

In some cases we can order things but in others it's just not available. And there is a huge segment of people who shop the day or day before they need something and so we are losing out on that business. Men especially are last minute shoppers.

Normally we don't get a lot of Levis shorts but those denim shorts go fast but this year we didn't get any and we had a handful before we closed and now I'm down to one pair of 32 slim straight shorts that no one is buying and no one will order them because they need them right away.

We haven't gotten anything new from most of the brands. We have started getting in some fall items - light weight hoodies, polos in fall colors but those are items we get in every year and they may have been in the warehouse.

Best Buy, Target and Walmart have all said they will be closed for Thanksgiving but they have also done well during this time and I don't see department stores being closed on Thanskgiving since we can't lose sales and if we are closed we can't fufill online orders either.

Everyone is talking about black Friday in terms of social distancing etc but it's going to be hugely different because of the merchandising issue.

There are no big movie releases so you don't have movie tie in merchandise, if production doesn't pick up then we aren't going to be able to have the inventory we would have during the rest of the year much less what we have for Christmas. I'm assuming there will be alot of stuff that you see year after year just because companies will hold on to excess and resell it the next year,

We haven't had a lot of clearance sales because we don't have a lot of extra stuff.

And then the GOP is about to send us over an economic cliff and people who have been buying will stop. I mean, it's already really slowed down but kids grow and need clothes. And we were selling a lot of suits for weddings (for wedding parties and for guests) but that has slowed down.

I haven't been to Marshalls or TJ Maxx since everything reopened but they rely a lot on overstock and last season stuff and that is going to start hurting that business model.

And there is a lack of social events which means a lack of clothes buying. This does hurt womens clothes more probably but we have seen a lack of Outfit Guys coming in to buy stuff (guys who are looking for a Look for something or have a Look in mind or are (continued...)

( continues...) tryign to get clothes to go with their new shoes)

I'm starting to lose Columbia sales to a local store in the mall because they have inventory in stock and Columbia isn't on sale as it was before.

I've always gone physically to stores as a last resort, even pre-pandemic, so not likely to change. Internet shopping and local store delivery are my best friends. While away from the city for the summer I have resorted to curb side pickup, but that works just dandy too.

Good news. A friend I often find politically infuriating had a post about why the heck she should wear a mask. It was asked honestly, so I answered her honestly. Her responses and back and forth were civil and friendly and she agreed with me. Then all the friends spouting bullshit and the man out to control you were responded to, but my post got the most positive responses. Anyway, I feel like I got through at least to her. (Her adult daughter hearted my response)

RIP Herman Cain. That's what going to Trump rallies will do for you.

wow.

wrt Cain

I've gone to Target - getting stuff for my new apartment - and stopped by TJ Maxx, since they're halfway between my office and my bus stop. They had some nice shirts on sale - summer-weight linen and rayon - so I treated myself. I wanted some new towels, which I got from Target (doing my bit for the economy?). I am irritated at Target - I really don't want to set up an account, but the website won't allow me to buy more than one thing at a time if I don't. boo!

In other news, if you want a change of scenery, there's Window Swap.

The guided meditation before bedtime seems to be helping ltc to calm down a bit.

That's awesome! I'm hoping it keeps up for you guys.

Target's online pickup has been great for me, and I just ordered some decor stuff from the website. I am also distressingly reliant on Amazon, though I try to support businesses at the source. Going to IKEA was super stressful for me, but it turned out to be OK, social distancing wise, and everyone was wearing masks.

Good morning, all! I am sitting here reading the news and thinking seriously about purchasing a personal firearm to protect my home from the coming insanity.

Hi, Nora!

I am also distressingly reliant on Amazon

Same. So easy. I have the guilt. At least I use the Buffista link, and hope that does something.

I can tell you that TJ Maxx and Marshalls are buying a shitload of bakeware from us. And usual levels of cookware. What they might have in stock in other departments I have no idea, I don't think they are open around here.

I know we've been shipping Belk but they aren't my account so I don't know how much they are ordering compared to previous years. We are certainly having supply shortages for some items/product categories, but not across the board. Of course, I think they did stop ordering for a while so inventory may still be in the pipeline rather than in stores.

From what I've been told, our healthy inventory status is pretty unusual, though.

Good job with your friend, Laura! One more person wearing a mask is a good thing.

I don't know how to feel about Cain. He was always such a ridiculous public figure, and I doubt his death will cause any GOP minds to change about anything.

I am sitting here reading the news and thinking seriously about purchasing a personal firearm to protect my home from the coming insanity.

I have thought about it enough to decide that it's still a bad idea for me personally (I would not be a responsible gun owner, I am pretty sure, so better I am not a gun owner at all). I have been thinking about how much work it would be to convert the attic into a living space that is at least partially concealed, though. A lot, but maybe worth it?