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Here’s How Trump’s Election Could Affect Retail

Published

7 years ago

November 10, 2016

Consumers don’t like surprises.

After Donald Trump’s surprise win in the presidential election, you’re probably wondering how the political climate might affect retail sales — particularly in your own business.

Forbes contributor Richard Kestenbaum says it could come down to two issues: “paralysis” and higher costs. Kestenbaum’s firm, Triangle Capital LLC, focuses on mergers, acquisitions and capital-raising for companies in fashion, retail, apparel, accessories and consumer products.

As he sees it, Trump’s win will cause people to clamp down on their spending for a while, simply because they want to see how things go. That applies to both larger and smaller purchases.

“The markets hate surprises and consumers do too,” Kestenbaum writes.

He also foresees the costs of labor and imported products rising. That would mean more pressure for retailers to charge more for their products.

Kestenbaum explains that “consumer products, particularly those imported, will be under pressure to increase prices when there is more pressure for tariffs on imports and less labor to load, move and sell consumer products.”

Read more at Forbes

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”