Date:         Fri, 9 Nov 2012 19:10:51 -0500
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Craftsman Tools, Ace Hardware
In-Reply-To:  <CAFaJG5r1CGBLdcP2uFbgRQiTJtgD-FAdFS5w6am0TgK3GCBKjQ@mail.gmail.com>
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> I now see Craftsman branded tools at Costco and now others mention Ace.
> And I think I have seen Craftsman tools other places?  


Sears Holdings (which also owns Kmart) is in serious financial trouble.
Their stores have been underperforming for years, and in many cases they
could actually make more money subletting the leases than they make
operating them as retail stores. They are hoping to expand their brand reach
outside of their own retail locations as a way of stemming the red ink,
since they can't seem to get bodies into their stores.  Besides Craftsman
they also own Kenmore, Die-Hard, and Lands End, all valuable trademarks even
if their retail arm eventually fails.  I would be shocked if the company
makes it much past the holidays without filing bankruptcy and/or divesting
significant assets.  Inevitably they will either join Montgomery Ward and
Gimbels as a relic from retail history, or sell their trademarks to someone
else. They are a dead man walking.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215)  234-VWVW

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