Holidays Anyone?

Avatar for ddnlj
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Holidays Anyone?
31
Wed, 11-11-2009 - 10:24am
By Karen Talley
   Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Macy's Inc.'s (M) fiscal third-quarter loss narrowed more than expected on lower markdowns, but the department store's guidance for the holiday season failed to meet analysts' expectations.


Macy's said it expects fourth-quarter earnings of $1 a share to $1.05 a share, with same-store-sales dropping 1% to 2%, when Wall Street was projecting earnings of $1.17 a share.


The lower-than-expected guidance follows other retailers, including Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (RL) last week and Fossil Inc. (FOSL) on Tuesday, offering more robust assessments for their fourth quarters.


Macy's shares are responding to the outlook, with the stock down 4.8% to $18.50 pre-market.


Macy's guidance could prove conservative because the retailer demonstrated during the third quarter that it is going into the Christmas season with lean inventories, which could reduce the likelihood of markdowns that would hurt earnings, analysts said.


Earnings for the full year are expected to be $1.01 to $1.06 a share, up from previous guidance of 70 cents to 80 cents a share, but still below analysts' average estimate of $1.11, according to Thomson Reuters. Macy's also improved its outlook for full-year same-store sales, calling for a decline of 5.4% to 5.7%.


During the recession, department stores have posted the biggest sales declines of just about all retail categories because of their extensive exposure to discretionary purchases. Macy's, which grew to national prominence with aggressive acquisitions, has shifted its strategy to show more locally targeted products in its stores rather than a uniform look across the U.S.


Chairman and Chief Executive Terry Lundgren said in a statement Wednesday the company is confident in the locally focused structure heading into the holiday season. Of the 10 districts that performed best by same-store sales last quarter, seven were among those that first adopted the "My Macy's" local-focus program, he said. The company had an "excellent quarter" given the difficult climate, as business progressively improved each month, Lungren said.


For the period ended Oct. 31, Macy's posted a loss of $35 million, or 8 cents a share, compared with a year-earlier loss of $44 million, or 10 cents a share. The periods included restructuring charges of 5 cents and 2 cents, respectively. Analysts anticipated a 7-cent loss.


Macy's said revenue decreased 3.9% to $5.28 billion, with same-store sales down 3.6%, although they were down 4.2% excluding online sales. Online sales, which include both macys.com and bloomingdales.com, were up 21%.


What do you plan to spend on the holidays this year? More, less, same as last year? 


To be honest, I'm in better financial shape now than I've been in the last 4 or 5 years. While I know others are out of work or struggling, I've found these times to be better than in years past for me. Gas isn't $4.00 a gallon, I'm not in debt, and I got a good raise early this year, so I'm doing OK.


However, that doesn't mean I'm going to go on a spending spree. I now pay cash for everything I want. No more credit cards - ever. And I'm saving every penny I can get my hands on.  I have everything I could possibly need -to spend money on STUFF would just be a waste. How many clothes does one person need? Do I really need that high-def TV?  No.  My car runs perfectly fine; I really don't need new one.  Why spend money just for the sake of spending it?


We will  have Christmas and there will be gifts, but we've pretty much already planned it out. We know what we'll be getting and we'll stick close to that. I used to go all out for Christmas, but no more.  It's not worth spending all that money on STUFF.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
In reply to: ddnlj
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 11:33am

Oh yes!


The other day he said he wasn't going to put lights outside. I said a silent, "Amen". He creates so much stress doing that. Last years lights hardly ever work so he tests them then runs to store for new ones. He creates so much tension. It's not worth the effort.

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Registered: 02-20-2007
In reply to: ddnlj
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 12:00pm
Aaaaahhh.....the good ole Holiday spirit.....reminds me of a time about 20 years ago my son and I hauled this HUGE freshly cut Christmas tree into our dining room where I was going to set it into the stand so the family could all string the lights, hang the decorations, put on Holiday music, and we could all sip egg nog as we marveled at how beautiful our finished tree looked. The tree looked much larger than any we had cut in prior years, but that only added to its beauty.....well, until no matter what the he!! I did, I couldn't hack enough off the length, as well as the diameter of the bottom, to get it into the stand.....after many tense moments, and curse words that would have made a sailor blush, I yelled for my son to go get me the chain saw.....yes, the CHAIN SAW!!!!!! My DW and DD stood there begging me not to use that saw in the house....I assured them I'd be extremely careful, and it would only take a few "whacks" and voila, it would easily fit into the stand we had used for years. Son comes back, saw in hand, I crank that bad boy up and I swear, have you ever heard how loud a chain saw can sound in an enclosed room?? Amazingly loud.....scary loud....LOL. Holy moses, the rest of the family left the room......I'm cutting and cursing, cursing and cutting, until finally I shut the damn thing off and made 2 rather childish statements.....#1, my DW should have bought a larger tree stand this year (mind you, it had worked just fine forever), and #2, did we still have the old artificial tree downstairs in the basement? We ended up tossing that tree outside, where it remained until nearly April of the next year before I could muster up the courage to chop it into tiny pieces and bag it up for the trash men, and put up this dinky little artificial tree we had had for a decade that we got on sale at Big Lots for like $5.....a real beauty!! My family has never allowed me to forget what happened that year. Oh, we did buy a bigger, badder tree stand the next year.....and I never bought or cut down a tree before measuring the diameter of the trunk!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
In reply to: ddnlj
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 12:45pm

LOL What a visual!


Moving to New England from Ca. we had to have a fresh tree. We'd drive up to nearby Xmas tree farm pick the tree & cut it ourselves. I think we've bought every possible type of tree stand made by man. Once I got up in the night & the *%$# tree had tipped over. Past couple of years we've bought smaller trees with needle that don't inflict pain when touched. I'd be happy if we didn't have a tree but DH really gets into the spirit of things. We watch all the same old Xmas movies every year.

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2007
In reply to: ddnlj
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 1:02pm

TBS.........marathon showing of "Christmas Story".......24 hours of it? Yep....I never miss it....lol. "A Wonderful Life"......I know it by heart!! "Christmas Vacation"......I have dreams about that movie starting around Thanksgiving.....:))


I had a tree fall over once also.......picked it up the next morning, pitched the ornaments that broke, cleaned up the loose needles and glass on the carpet, and nobody ever knew.....I was the first one up that day, and I wasn't going to take the rap on not having that sucker lagged down properly......lol. I often wonder why we go through the stress Christmas can give us. I look soooo forward to January 2nd every year......truthfully.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
In reply to: ddnlj
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 1:52pm

"I was the first one up that day, and I wasn't going to take the rap on not having that sucker lagged down properly"


You crack me up. LOL


I love Christmas Story! In a magazine I received awhile ago they had a leg lamp for sale. If it had been cheaper I'd have bought it for DH's office.

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Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2007
In reply to: ddnlj
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 2:18pm

I'd die for a leg lamp!!!! I laugh each time I watch that movie.....it's a classic that will give new generations of kids the same enjoyment it has given us.


Good luck this week at Indy.....I'm afraid the Pats may take one on the chin.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
In reply to: ddnlj
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 2:32pm

Here's a 'genuine replica' of the leg lamp. Page down. It even comes in different sizes.


http://www.redriderleglamps.com/store.cfm


".....I'm afraid the Pats may take one on the chin."


Say it wont be so. The Pat's

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
In reply to: ddnlj
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 2:36pm

http://www.redriderleglamps.com/productDetails.cfm;jsessionid=4a30af2fd5eb5812246bTR?merchID=15&showDescription=yes&CFID=1477529&CFTOKEN=44064561


Oh look at these leg Xmas lights......


Leg Lamp String of LightsAND an inflatable lawn ornament. Now that's 'classy'. LOL






Leg Lamp Inflatable Lawn Ornament
When the front room window is not enough ...

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2007
In reply to: ddnlj
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 2:52pm

Oh...........My.............God.........!?!?!


An inflatable leg lamp.......say it ain't so Joe......LOL, LOL.


I'm gonna get mine on order before the rush...thank you so much...:)))

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
In reply to: ddnlj
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 2:57pm

I think I might get the Xmas lights as a gag gift for DH. He'd get a "kick" out of them.


They have ties too. You could wear it work & show the guys who's boss in your house. ;)

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