Consolidation has hit just about every industry. Are consumers better off?
Pottery Barn and William Sonoma are owned by the same company. So are Best Buy and Magnolia Audio/Video. Or Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister. Whether it's retail or grocery stores, the common theme of consolidation and mergers has large companies now owning more brand names than ever before. Marketing experts say it's all about targeting merchandise and advertising to more specific niche groups--and servicing those customers better. What's your feeling about shopping these days: Do the stores do a better job catering to your needs? Do you feel you have more choices or not?
Note: This program will be re-aired April 1, 2007.
Missed the show? Watch it on streaming video: KING 5 News Up Front with Robert Mak EVERY SUNDAY: THE ISSUES THAT MATTER KING-5 @ 9:30 a.m. NWCN @ 8:00 p.m. KONG-TV @ 10:30 p.m.
15 Comments
Peter said:
Thank you for your report. I feel that the "consolidation" you describe is a very negative trend. Business conservatives have created choices that do not really exist. Any price cuts really result from removing the competition, shortening supply lines and outsourcing to cheaper labor markets. We, the public buy a cheaper product that undermines local economies. We have less power to ensure quality of life issues like living wages and the environment. Small business needs to be encouraged. If you want quality, shop at a food COOP, a local clothing store (not in a mall) or order from a "mom amd pop" online.
zoidman said:
Is consolidation for better or worse? i say worse because it gives those bigger companies more control over pricing-as in raising the prices. on another note-the wsdot and an insurance company here are saying they want to start a pilot program of 5000 drivers to put gps tracking devices in there cars to help lower their insurance rates based on the miles you drive. google "pay as you go driving" and you will really see whats going on- this is a government funded project to ease people into the idea, and then when you least expect it...they will hit us with a pay by the mile you drive tax. the google results will show you they are already going to implement this in the u.k. our government works on the "boiling a frog" concept. if you put the frog into the all-ready boiling water he will jump right out, but if you turn up the heat slowly...he will be cooked before he has a clue whats happening...think about it....you are told this will save you money on your insurance, who doesnt want that? so it gets accepted and you have the gps device in your car-already paid for. now the good old government comes along and says "hey we can use those devices to charge tax by the mile" and they got you like the slowly boiled frog. this subject should be addressed by this program and robert mak
Aaron Johnson said:
i think that "pay as you go driving" is worser than the current toll system that we have now on some local bridges and streets
and that it would put stress on seattle drivers
who go to work everyday
Aaron Johnson said:
i think that the consolidations, shopping wise
when it comes to restraunts to grocery stores to stoes at the mall are just fine
i think they are great
but as for the transportation side of consolidations
who's idea was it to let all of those poor rent a car and airline companies take a steeping blow to our local econemy?
the governor?
i think not
if all of the rent a car and airline companies weren't being pushed around by people
then they'd do their jobs right
and get millions of people to their appropiate destinations
I thought this special was very enlightening. I learned a lot about the stores I shop at and why al the clothes look the same. Thank you so much King-5. You people ROCK!
OMG this was like the most amazing documentary of my whole LIFE. I learned SOOOOOO much about the stores i shop at and was suprised to hear how many store are connected!!!
I enjoyed this news repportttttttttttttttttttttt!!! THANKS!!!! :]]]
Tyler said:
Robert Mac is a sexy beast.
Sam said:
I go to Cedarcrest high school, and today we watches your news report in marketing. I really enjoyed it and would have never guessed that some of these stores were owned by the same people. I thought most of them were competitors. Thank you for broadcasting this news report.
Tiffany said:
Hi, I go to cedarcrest High School and I'm taking the marketing class there.Today in class we watched your news report and I thought it showed a good point of view. The chains of stores are owned by so many different people. I did not relize that so many of my favorite stores where owned by the same people. And the differences between the stores is no that much different anymore. Thank you for showing the other side of things and I would enjoy seeing more about the topic on the news. Thanks.
sext bunny foo foo said:
I think this story was random and yeah..plus i think kiro 7 is sooo much better..lol
ROCK ON KIRO 7 NEWS..
patrick said:
the end of the world is here. everybody is so focused on the things of the world. and men are buyihg up everythin
brent said:
that last comment is so wrong. This trend can only led to good things. THis could mean that people want to try to combat this and start new businesses which mean more jobs for everybody.
Jeff said:
What are lawmakers doing to ensure our roads and buildings and our saftety when and if an earthquake strikes our region. Or is seattle not prepared and going to scramble after the fact? When it's to late!
Pottery Barn and William Sonoma are owned by the same company. So are Best Buy and Magnolia Audio/Video. Or Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister. Whether it's retail or grocery stores, the common theme of consolidation and mergers has large companies now owning more brand names than ever before. Marketing experts say it's all about targeting merchandise and advertising to more specific niche groups--and servicing those customers better. What's your feeling about shopping these days: Do the stores do a better job catering to your needs? Do you feel you have more choices or not?
Note: This program will be re-aired April 1, 2007.
KING 5 News Up Front with Robert Mak
Thank you for your report. I feel that the "consolidation" you describe is a very negative trend. Business conservatives have created choices that do not really exist. Any price cuts really result from removing the competition, shortening supply lines and outsourcing to cheaper labor markets. We, the public buy a cheaper product that undermines local economies. We have less power to ensure quality of life issues like living wages and the environment. Small business needs to be encouraged. If you want quality, shop at a food COOP, a local clothing store (not in a mall) or order from a "mom amd pop" online.
Is consolidation for better or worse? i say worse because it gives those bigger companies more control over pricing-as in raising the prices. on another note-the wsdot and an insurance company here are saying they want to start a pilot program of 5000 drivers to put gps tracking devices in there cars to help lower their insurance rates based on the miles you drive. google "pay as you go driving" and you will really see whats going on- this is a government funded project to ease people into the idea, and then when you least expect it...they will hit us with a pay by the mile you drive tax. the google results will show you they are already going to implement this in the u.k. our government works on the "boiling a frog" concept. if you put the frog into the all-ready boiling water he will jump right out, but if you turn up the heat slowly...he will be cooked before he has a clue whats happening...think about it....you are told this will save you money on your insurance, who doesnt want that? so it gets accepted and you have the gps device in your car-already paid for. now the good old government comes along and says "hey we can use those devices to charge tax by the mile" and they got you like the slowly boiled frog. this subject should be addressed by this program and robert mak
i think that "pay as you go driving" is worser than the current toll system that we have now on some local bridges and streets
and that it would put stress on seattle drivers
who go to work everyday
i think that the consolidations, shopping wise
when it comes to restraunts to grocery stores to stoes at the mall are just fine
i think they are great
but as for the transportation side of consolidations
who's idea was it to let all of those poor rent a car and airline companies take a steeping blow to our local econemy?
the governor?
i think not
if all of the rent a car and airline companies weren't being pushed around by people
then they'd do their jobs right
and get millions of people to their appropiate destinations
I thought this special was very enlightening. I learned a lot about the stores I shop at and why al the clothes look the same. Thank you so much King-5. You people ROCK!
OMG this was like the most amazing documentary of my whole LIFE. I learned SOOOOOO much about the stores i shop at and was suprised to hear how many store are connected!!!
Thanks for the TIGHT learning experience.
Love Gretchen
Aaron Johnson. LEARN HOW TO SPELL!
I enjoyed this news repportttttttttttttttttttttt!!! THANKS!!!! :]]]
Robert Mac is a sexy beast.
I go to Cedarcrest high school, and today we watches your news report in marketing. I really enjoyed it and would have never guessed that some of these stores were owned by the same people. I thought most of them were competitors. Thank you for broadcasting this news report.
Hi, I go to cedarcrest High School and I'm taking the marketing class there.Today in class we watched your news report and I thought it showed a good point of view. The chains of stores are owned by so many different people. I did not relize that so many of my favorite stores where owned by the same people. And the differences between the stores is no that much different anymore. Thank you for showing the other side of things and I would enjoy seeing more about the topic on the news. Thanks.
I think this story was random and yeah..plus i think kiro 7 is sooo much better..lol
ROCK ON KIRO 7 NEWS..
the end of the world is here. everybody is so focused on the things of the world. and men are buyihg up everythin
that last comment is so wrong. This trend can only led to good things. THis could mean that people want to try to combat this and start new businesses which mean more jobs for everybody.
What are lawmakers doing to ensure our roads and buildings and our saftety when and if an earthquake strikes our region. Or is seattle not prepared and going to scramble after the fact? When it's to late!