Why are discounters like 99 Cents Only Stores in dire straits?

Apr 9, 2024
99 Cents and Dollar Tree are facing inflationary pressures and competition. Their customers aren’t doing that well either.
A 99 Cents Only store in Los Angeles, The discount chain plans to close all of its 371 stores, which are located in California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Outlet malls experiment with food and full-price stores to maintain growth

May 12, 2017
Outlets became part of our shopping lives during the recession. Now they're taking on the trappings of full-price malls.
The latest survey on consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan follows news of high inflation earlier in the week.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Attention, discount shoppers: The psychology of sales

Dec 22, 2014
Sales create a sense of urgency, getting people in the door. Do they work as a retail strategy?

The lowdown on employee discounts

Jul 2, 2014
What if everything in your favorite store was 30 percent off, every single day?
Annie Chapman has worked at Foy's Halloween and Variety in Fairborn, Ohio for ten years. She says she uses her employee discount all the time.
Lewis Wallace

J.C. Penney sales plunge amid 'bumpy transition'

Feb 28, 2013
J.C. Penney had another tough quarter. Sales were down 28 percent -- more than half a billion dollars.

For public good, not for profit.

Making art affordable

Feb 10, 2012
Home decor businesses are following the fashion world's example, finding artists who'll mass produce their works and sell them in retail stores for a fraction of the cost.