59% of Kirkland's Respondents See Business as Down or the Same vs. Last Year

Kirkland’s Inc., the home décor retailer, was profiled after the company announced a slight drop in Q2 earnings. We asked which items sell best, can we anticipate new items this fall, how does business compare with last year, do you anticipate a lot of sale merchandise this season and how much do people spend? Twenty three stores were consulted. We found that six people or 26% cited that outdoor tables and chairs sell best. The same number cited painted collage frames and three people or 13% mentioned Tuscan vases. Seventeen people or 74% foresee more new items this fall over last year. Six people or 26% do not. Seven people or 30% reckon that business is down from a year earlier but then the same ratio said sales were up and nine people or 29% think sales are just the same. Meanwhile 15 people or 65% think they will see more sale merchandise this season. Eight people or 35% think merchandise will be the same and shoppers are mostly repeat shoppers (61% say). Only six people or 26% say their shoppers are new customers. But customers spend well at Kirkland’s overall. Eleven people or 48% say people spend $50-$100. Nine people or 39% say people spend $100-$300 and three people or 13% see bills for $450-$700.

21% of KFC Respondents say Specials do Nothing to Bump Business at All

Twenty eight locations of KFC were profiled this week. This was after the Yum Brands Inc., announced it would be raising meal prices next year to counter world growing food costs. We wondered whether lunch or dinner was busier? Which specials are being offered? Are sales up as a result? Have the sales been on the menu a while and how old is your location? Sixteen people or 57% quoted lunch as the busier shift. Twelve people or 43% said it was dinner. Twenty two people or 79% claimed having specials on the menu (chicken strips, family meals and Veggietables kids menus were among those mentioned). Six people or 21% reported having no specials at all. Eighteen people or 86% said these specials help increase business. Six people or 21% said the specials did nothing to bump customers at all. Twenty five people or 89% said the specials are new additions, three people or 11% said these specials were nothing new at all. And all 28 respondents said their location was old, at least older than a year.

Honda Sees Increase In Sales of Smaller Cars

An August survey of Honda dealerships found that 59% reported an increase in sales in the previous month. 50% offer free satellite radio, down from 57% in March. 38% stated that they offer deals on SUVs to combat high gas prices, up from 24% in March. 44% stated the Accord is the best-selling vehicle, up from 38% in March, while 41% cited the Civic, up from 24% in March.