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Small Business Struggling: Sam’s Club CEO

ROGERS Ark. – While the Sam’s Club division of Wal-Mart Stores is realizing strong sales gains from consumer members, many of the chain’s business members are struggling, Rosalind Brewer, chief executive officer of Sam’s Club in the U.S., said here during a presentation Thursday.

Jon Springer, Executive Editor

June 7, 2013

1 Min Read
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ROGERS, Ark. – While the Sam’s Club division of Wal-Mart Stores is realizing strong sales gains from consumer members, many of the chain’s business members are struggling, Rosalind Brewer, chief executive officer of Sam’s Club in the U.S., said here during a presentation Thursday.

Brewer characterized some business members as under more pressure today than during the height of the 2008 economic slowdown. She said convenience-store members in particular are struggling, citing the rapid growth of dollar store chains – and their recent adoption of tobacco products – as key triggers of c-stores’ woes.

Read more: Wal-Mart Provides Peek Into Sam's Lab

Brewer also said small restaurant owners were facing difficult times as quick-service chains have pressured pricing and dining occasions for those members. Brewer said average tickets were down among business members in the first quarter.

“They are telling us they are still financially strapped, and it’s playing out in our clubs,” she said.

 

About the Author

Jon Springer

Executive Editor

Jon Springer is executive editor of Winsight Grocery Business with responsibility for leading its digital news team. Jon has more than 20 years of experience covering consumer business and retail in New York, including more than 14 years at the Retail/Financial desk at Supermarket News. His previous experience includes covering consumer markets for KPMG’s Insiders; the U.S. beverage industry for Beverage Spectrum; and he was a Senior Editor covering commercial real estate and retail for the International Council of Shopping Centers. Jon began his career as a sports reporter and features editor for the Cecil Whig, a daily newspaper in Elkton, Md. Jon is also the author of two books on baseball. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English-Journalism from the University of Delaware. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. with his family.

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