Stock Market

I invested in 100 shares each of the following retailers; Kohl’s Corporation (KSS), Macy’s, Incorporated (M), Nordstrom’s, Incorporated (JWN), VF Corporation (VFC), and Target Corporation (TGT). My initial reason for choosing these particular businesses was due to the obvious fact that they are each in the business of clothing and apparel. Also, they are all well know within the industry and because they are of particular interest to me.
VF Corporation, a local manufacturing company, has specialized in “jeanswear, outdoor products, image apparel, sportswear and contemporary apparel brands” for over one hundred years. They offer brands such as Wrangler®, Lee®, Riders®, and 7 For All Mankind®.
Macy’s and Nordstrom’s are higher end retailers that have withstood economic downtimes and countrywide recession. They have been able to stabilize their position in the apparel industry while continuously growing their fan base. Macy’s, once catered to the working class, has become a “boutique like” retailer who caters to a more economically advanced group.
Retailers such as Target and Kohl’s, offer a plethora of items to suit their customers needs. These massive stores provide numerous apparel and non apparel items for men, women children. They have a host of household goods, shoes gift iseas and accessories which make for a well rounded shopping experience. Target seems the likely choice for consumers who dislike Wal-Mart and its long twisting lines, unkempt floor, and low quality.
I invested in 100 shares each of the following entities; Exxon Mobile Corporation (XOM), Kimco Realty Corporation (KIM), Merck & Company, Incorporated ( MRK), North West Airlines Corporation (NWA), and Sony Corporation (SNE). I based my choice on the economic slump America is headed for. I wanted to see how major industries such as Gasoline and petroleum, real estate, health care and maintenance, travel (specifically airway travel), and computers and technology, would fair in the upcoming recession.
It’s no doubt that each of these majors economic sectors will continue to be profitable. I am concerned about which may see major effects of the recession and which may continue to flourish despite the economic crunch.
I have come up with a fantasy ranking system to evaluate who will be victorious and who will experience profit loss. Of the five contenders, I believe, the gasoline and petroleum, namely Exxon, will flourish will little to no interruptions. The ideology behind this is that people must travel in order to work, in order to continue to bring income into the house, in order to live. The second, least effected, sector is the health care and maintenance field. People need to stay healthy to work, enough said. The two sectors that rank neck-and-neck are travel and computers and technology. These two fields are not essential to everyday living, but they are readily consumed goods. It seems that air travel will decrease as it’s the most expensive form of travel. Also, people may want to rethink extravagant vacation plans in lieu of local attractions. The electronic field will slowly decline as consumers contemplate the importance of needs versus wants.
Last, and certainly least, the real estate industry. We have seen how this sector has caused mayhem and heartache for many new home buyers. Sending their hard earned investments back to the bank and into foreclosure. Consumers will not be ready to purchase homes until the economy grows and it becomes a “buyers market” again.

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It appears, that for the next four years, our country will ran by democratic leadership. Opponents vying for the republican ticket are less popular. This seems to be due to the stain caused by our current executive branch. With war still looming, a recession ahead, and widespread job loss it appears that the Republican Party may not have such a great turnout.
According to A C-Span poll, released Sunday, Obama and Clinton are running neck and neck. Each presidential hopeful is rallying followers in anticipation of “Super Tuesday”. Obama and Clinton are virtually tied in California, New Jersey and Missouri.

"It looks like we have some serious horse races going on with Clinton and Obama," said pollster John Zogby said. "However it turns out, we can be pretty sure it is too close to be resolved on Tuesday."

Obama, an Illinois senator who would be the first black U.S. president, has a comfortable 20-point lead in Georgia fueled by a more than 3-to-1 advantage over Clinton among black voters.

WASHINGTON (Reuters)

A consumer’s idea of the perfect shopping experience differs from person to person and even more so from generation to generation! The type of shopping experience expected for a 53 year old woman is nothing like that of a 13 year old girl. For example, the 13 year old (known to be from the Z generation) would have a better experience if she were shopping in an upbeat environment with loud music and bright colors. A place like limited too would be her ideal place to shop for apparel. Now when it comes to the 53 year old woman (and baby boomer) I think of women like my mother and shopping for clothing is not on her list of priorities. She’d prefer a place like JC Penney’s. It’s affordable and has a variety of everything all in one place. Now on the other had a 31 year old women (generation X) is at the peak of her prime, career wise and, is more than likely a working mother. She might prefer to shop somewhere like Macy’s. A trendy place with nice fashion to help keep her young, not too pricey but still a place that carries designer names. A 23 year old (generation Y) can also be seen in Macy’s for the newest fashions. The one generation I haven’t mentioned yet is the silent generation. I feel this generation (born1925-1945) would probably prefer the shop from a catalog only to avoid the hassle of the streets. Shopping from home allows them shop at their own pace instead of having to keep up with everyone else’s.

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Generational Cohorts

Generation X -

Known as the "Baby Bust", due to a sharp decline in birth rate, individuals born between the twenty year time-span from 1960 to 1980 are characterized as being "apathetic, cynical, disaffected, streetwise loners and slackers". However, they also hold popularity as being the most entrepreneurial laden, technologically-innovative group in America.
Following the Baby-boomers yet preceding Generation Y, Gen X-ers have experienced their fair share of heartache and triumph. Their birth marked the end of the cold war as well as the Regan administration. They witnessed the collapse of the USSR and the Berlin Wall. Also notable were the very loose gender roles that defined women and the rigid gender identification of men, the fierce boom of women in the male-dominated workforce, the decline of marriage and the lack of mainstream religion.

Most importantly they saw the rise of America as the superpower it is today. This action single-handedly influenced what events took place, what trends were seen, and what type of adults Gen X-ers grew up to be.

As consumers Gen X-ers compose almost one-fifth of the US population while consistently spending $125 billion each year. They have a great "affinity for technology, fast spending, and more impressed by personal style than designer price tags." Categorized into three groups: college and graduate students, young professionals, and married couples. Business ownership is prominent within Gen X-ers, while others within the group float from career to career with ease.

Their life is defined by coffee shops, intense sports, and explorative vacations. Retailers such as The Gap dominate clothing purchases made by Gen X-ers.

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