Excerpt from Houston Chronicle Toys R Us, the beloved toy retailer that went out of business last year, has returned to Houston with a revamped store that aims to offer a more interactive shopping experience than its failed predecessors. Customers at the new Toys R Us, which opens Saturday at the Galleria mall, are greeted by corporate mascot… Read More: Toys R Us returns to Houston with interactive store »
It’s a cautionary tale about LBOs and strategic shortsightedness.
Source: www.bloomberg.com
The retailer was saddled with hefty debt in a 2005 leveraged buyout in which Bain Capital, KKR & Co. and Vornado Realty Trust took the retailer private. In recent months, the company’s financial burden went from seriously challenging to unsustainable.
But the toy and baby-gear behemoth was afflicted by many other retail ailments. With rivals looking to get a piece of the sales its disappearance leaves up for grabs, it’s worth pointing out the other missteps that, if avoided, could perhaps have steered Toys “R” Us to an alternate ending.
Floor Sensor Prize at Retail Loco One lucky attendee will walk away from the event with a free Scanalytics floor sensor system. Hosted by the Location Based Marketing Association, RetailLoco is a day-and-half-long event that will deliver insights and trends on the latest in mobile and location-based tools and techniques for retailers. The event will feature keynote speakers,… Read More: Scanalytics and RetailLoco Giveaway »
Consumers look to spend in brick-and-mortar When discussing the state of retail, it is important to investigate retail spending trends. Recent research by eMarketer takes a look at how and where consumers in the United States are going to be spending money over the next 6 or 7 years. eMarketer’s research reveals that disposable income spent by consumers in… Read More: White Paper – Consumer Behavior 2015 Retail »