Major chains that cater to teens are trying all sorts of tricks to ramp up back-to-school shopping. Target is offering free transportation to and from colleges. Abercrombie & Fitch is hitting Facebook and brought back its quarterly magazine.
With all of this competition, analyst Maggie Gilliam of Gilliam & Co. told The Wall Street Journal: "I wouldn't want to be in the teen apparel business right now."
Recently released July sales aren't pointing to a success back-to-school period. Analyst David Bassuck told Reuters that discounts will rule the game again and that: "We're going to have a slow, painful back-to-school season." July sales were only up 2.9%, according to Thomson Reuters. ICSC said they rose 2.8%.
What are your opinions about back to school this year? Will retailers continue deep discounts if they fail to attract consumers? Or will Madonna save Macy's?
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