Contributing Member of the Consumer Goods & Services Councils
Names and details of certain GLG News authors are available only to GLG Clients and Council Members. GLG News authors are subject-matter experts within the GLG Councils and are available for expert consulting - by phone, in-person, or written analysis. To find out how to become a GLG client or Council Member, click here.
All News Analyses by this Author
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.
-
As Goes the Motors Goes the Nation
June 1, 2009
U.S. Expected to Own 70% of Restructured G.M. | www.nytimes.com
The government is making last minute attempts to find an agreement to prevent GM bankruptcy. $20 billion dollars has been poured into GM, and another $30 billion is being considered, along with a sale of assets to a new GM, and government ownership of as much as 70% of the company. Bondholders have rejected the agreement to receive 10%. Warnings are being given from those with experience about the new Marxist America. -
Retail Sales Indicative of Economy
May 28, 2009
Retail sales fall in year to May | www.retail-week.com
Retails sales falling in May are indicative of the state of the economy and continue a 3 year trend. Declining sales will compound political problems as tax revenues fall. Retailers will continue to experience a difficult consumer market in coming months as consumers become ever more wary of what they purchase. -
March 23, 2009
Finlay enters into new agreement with CEO: SEC filing | www.reuters.com
Finlay has given a $1 million retention bonus to its CEO Arthur Reiner despite its recent financial woes. Finlay liquidity difficulties have forced closure of its department stores to concentrate on its jewelry stores. -
Tropicana Casino License Application Denied
January 25, 2008
LICENSE REVOKED - TROPICANA DENIED BY NEW JERSEY PANEL | www.lvrj.com
The Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City had its license application denied by NJ state Casino Control Commission. The Tropicana then filed an appeal using the emergency license application, which was denied by the NJ courts, which claim the Tropicana can follow the normal appeal process, which will take a few weeks to complete. A 1-year temporary license was also denied for reasons of "a lack of business ability, a lack of financial responsibility and lack of good character, honesty and integrity." -
Sears Reorganizing to Streamline Operations
January 24, 2008
Sears reshuffles amid slow sales | www.detnews.com
Sears Holdings is reorganizing its operations that each unit will have greater responsibility over its own business. The decision is the result of falling profits, the result of a poor home goods market and weakening economy. -
Lampert Reorganizing Sears Amid Praise & Criticism
January 23, 2008
Sears to break into several companies | money.cnn.com
Edward Lampert, Sears chairman and investor, is reorganizing Sears into several companies, or units, in an attempt to improve sales. Mr Lampert is making the changes amid both praise and criticism for the reorganization. Mr Lampert is applying a theory of management known as complexity theory in the reorganization he is planning. -
UAW Contract & Union Policy with Big Three Automakers
January 23, 2008
UAW sees Big 3 Saving $1,000 a car | online.wsj.com
As a former member of the UAW who continues to receive the UAW Magazine free of charge, there is continuity between this labor agreement and past labor agreements, with one slight difference, buy-outs, replacement, and then reduced salaries for one level of employees. The UAW has also recognized the difficulty the auto industry is presently facing in negotiating this agreement. -
Rising Food Prices & FDA Decision on Cloned Animals for Food
January 21, 2008
Cloned Animals May Be Used For Food In the U. S., FDA Says | www.bloomberg.com
The FDA has backed the use of cloned animal foods despite the objections of lawmakers, consumer groups, and consumers. The decision appears to be based primarily on economic and political factors. -
Richard Breeden Shows Confidence, Increases Stake In Zale Jewelers
January 10, 2008
Breeden continues building stake in jeweler Zale | www.reuters.com
Richard Breeden of Breeden Capital Management has increased his holdings of Zale Corp claiming that the company is undervalued. An activist investor, Mr Breeden has stated, that he may initiate a major transaction in the company in the future. -
Devaluation of US Dollar Means Higher Prices for Automobiles, Imported and Domestic
January 8, 2008
A Comeback Year For The Dollar? | online.wsj.com
The devaluation of the US Dollar means higher prices for goods, commodities, and auto-parts in both domestic and imported goods. It also means higher fuel prices, and a lower standard of living. The top economic experts, such as Jim Sinclair, expect the US Dollar to continue its devaluation for quite some time, due to the size of the national debt, the worsening derivative and sub-prime crisis, and government mismanagement of the economy. -
Zale Inc's Poor Performance More Than Management
December 27, 2007
Zale Replaces CEO | www.forbes.com
Zale Inc's recent poor performance and increased debt is more than management. Zale has not adjusted to the weakening economy or the present consumer retail environment. Recent poor share performance is traced to the recent retrenchment in the share performance of gold producers, weakening consumer goods markets, and the high costs of working with a gold product. -
Department of Justice Fine on Internet Gambling Ads Has Interesting Considerations
December 26, 2007
Microsoft, Yahoo and Google settle with DOJ on gambling ads | www.marketwatch.com
The Department of Justice has issued fines totaling $31 million against Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google for displaying ads that promoted internet gambling, which violated some municipal and state laws, and the federal wire wager act. This decision has some interesting considerations. -
Emission Laws, Fuel Costs, Changing Auto Fashions
December 21, 2007
GM: Emission Law May Hamper Muscle Cars | www.nytimes.com
The ZR1 Corvette is the model supercar. However, Corvette's chief engineer says it may be the last of the performance cars. Fashion and marketing cycles are dependent on change. Legislation, fuel costs, practicality, and costs will mandate change and style in the future of the "supercar". -
Online Retailers Offering Incentives to Keep Customers Shopping
December 20, 2007
Retailers lure exhausted shoppers online | www.msnbc.msn.com
Even with the number of online customers leveling off, and expected sales the weakest since 2002. Retailers are offering discounts and incentives to lure online shoppers. Sales at major online retailers remain strong, and customers seem to be gaining confidence with the average price of items purchased increasing, and customers looking for "best value", rather than "cheapest price". -
Retailers Cutting Prices, Longer Hours, Trying to Encourage Sales
December 20, 2007
Retail Throws a Hail Mary | www.thestreet.com
Retailers are cutting prices as much as 60% and keeping longer hours in an attempt to increase sales, as result of decreasing sales over the holiday week. Internet sales, costs of fuel and foods, consumer debt, and the present economic downturn are the main reasons. -
Foreign Competition, Weak Economy, Fuel Costs, Equal Lower Auto Sales
December 14, 2007
Ford and GM Plan to Trim 2008 Output | www.nytimes.com
Ford and General Motors reported they will reduce production due to slowing sales, continuing weakness in the economy, and Japanese competition, among other factors. -
Tiffany Lawsuit vs eBay to Set Precedent for Internet Retailers
November 28, 2007
Tiffany awaits verdict in eBay lawsuit | www.nationaljewelernetwork.com
Tiffany is awaiting verdict in a lawsuit claiming that eBay is a distribution network that allows counterfeit Tiffany items to be sold. The verdict could set a precedent impacting other internet retailers. -
Zales Taking Cautious Holiday Outlook
November 26, 2007
Zale 1Q loss widens as jeweler cuts forecast, cautious holiday outlook | www.chron.com
Zales is taking a cautious holiday outlook. Caution is warranted due to a combination of lower earnings, product positioning, and recent declines in share prices. -
Wal-Mart Opening State-of-the-Art Retail Centers
November 21, 2007
Wal-Mart Opens Bold New Supercenter | www.retailingtoday.com
Wal-Mart is opening state-of-the-art retail centers incorporating upgraded merchandizing, improved product offerings, energy efficiency, and environment. The improvements in these new stores are long overdo and will make Wal-Mart a welcome retail center of many communities. -
November 19, 2007
Buffett Buy Sends CarMax Shares Soaring | online.wsj.com
Warren Buffet purchases undervalued stocks and looks at the assets of the company. Berkshire Hathaway is looking at large used car market potential.
- Subscribe to Updates
-
This author consults with leading institutions through GLG
Most Popular Consumer Goods & Services News
-
October Jewelry Sales- Estimates Conflict with Reported Results
November 6, 2009
-
Restaurant Trends Suggest Protracted Challenges for Foodservice Industry
November 5, 2009
-
Note To Jewelry Industry-Wait and See Isn’t a Viable Strategy
November 4, 2009
-
Zale Loses One-Third of Investor’s New Worth-Revised
November 4, 2009
-
Auto Sales Getting Closer To The "New Normal?"
November 4, 2009
-
www.topix.com
Zale FY09 Revenue -17%, Reports Loss of $190M Zale Corporation...
-
www.telegraph.co.uk
-
www.nationaljewelernetwork.com
-
online.wsj.com
-
www.npd.com