The merger of Sears and KMart was not made in heaven. But, ALMOST!
The merger seems to have come from the Geriatric Floor of the ICU!
It's almost like Wall Street is practicing Mortuary Science without a
license!
These two companies aren't really merging; they're being "embalmed"
to preserve them for "whatever comes next."
The closest thing to it was the AOL rape of TimeWarner back during
the Bubble Daze;
There, AOL, a company on the ropes, had the foresight to hook up with
a company that was "geriatric," but at least had some hard assets,
brands, and goodwill. Think, gigolo and dowager here.
Kmart and Sears will now have the opportunity to combine their two
failing business plans, to figure out what comes next. But, since
Walmart is eating their lunch, I suggest doing the figuring over
dinner!
Alas, this kills my hope that Amazon would buy Kmart and combine
BRICKS AND CLICKS in THE NEW NEXT BIG THING!
But wait, something tells me that we are not done with Sears/Kmart
yet. Maybe Yahoo could buy the "remains" in a few years and find the
new killer app of e-commerce? Well, stranger things have happen.
Frankly, it's been years since I've really "shopped" at either Sears
or KMart. True, I might do a "walk through" once or twice a year.
But, the merchandise is usually rather dowdy and working class.
Chariman Mao would love it! And everything is Make in China too!
Alas, now we might get to see working class "frumpiness" taken to a
whole new level!
Still, Kmart's Martha Steward brand seems well suited to a "working
class" paradigm.
After all, who better to "speak to" America's newly sturggling masses
that an "ex-con!" Hmmmm....., can Martha Rap? I bet she can now!
As I see retailing in America: WALMART IS THE NEW SEARS. AND TARGET
IS THE NEW KMART.
THINK, THAT SICKENING TAR-JAY ORANGE, NOT THE FLASHING KMART BLUE!
AND THOSE SAD AND LIVERIED WALMART WAGE SLAVES, NOT THE OLD FRUMPY
LADY BEHIND THE SEARS SERVICE COUNTERS.
Alas, History does repeat. But with just enough changes to avoid
plagerism and copyright infringments!
Montgomery Ward is looking dowm from retailing heaven today; smiling
knowingly.
