Poll Results, Comments: Jan/Feb 2010: Star of Year, Lawsuit, Vacations, Oh My!

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Greetings everyone, thanks for the out pour of comments and emails the past two months!

The poll we had up has just closed, here are the results:

Question: Do you like the idea of BJ's creating more 85,000 sqft stores?

Yes: 81 (69%)


No:  35 (30%)

Looks like most of you do like the idea of smaller stores, check out our new poll to the left of this post.  If you'd like to suggest an idea for a poll send us an email!

Okay, onward and upward, as most of you know BJ's 4Q numbers are being released this coming Wednesday, until then we thought we'd review this past post's comments and discussions that have been flooding our email accounts:

Lawsuit

Anonymous 'expects more Payroll cuts to offset this pay out [from wage and hour suit]...."

Anonymous says "Today's hourly wagers are not uneducated or dumb. HR would do well to see that respect is a two way street."

Anonymous said that 'Home Office has to realize that its the workers that make or break a business, and if they keep on doing the things they have been, there will not be a BJ's in the near future as today, there are many alternatives for the consumer...'

Anonymous said 'the Sad thing is, even with this lawsuit settled, there are Gms still running their clubs this way. They wont learn a lesson until the Labor board gets involved. The communication between management and hourly is atrocious.'

Anonymous wonders 'Why do you think there are so many Overnight Manager Positions listed on BJ's Employment site?'

One writer gives their first hand experience of the lawsuit

"This is not about Costco, or Sam's club, This is about BJ's and things that happen there. Nothing will ever improve if people just shut up and let things go on as is"

And one anonymous poster thinks if the club would become union, it would instantly become an under performing store and shut down.

 One poster says remember you must pay union dues, while another says 'Oh big deal unions collect dues'

Star of year 

Anonymous wonders how a cart-person can win SOY.

Anonymous tells us three things they look for in the SOY


Anonymous says "Its a favoritism thing. At our club, a part timer who is late a great deal, texts on his cell phone during work, etc got SOY but because he is a butt kisser, he gets on avg 45-50 hours a week"

Anonymous thinks the SOY program creates more disconnect and resentment than good.


Anonymous thinks SOY is completely arbitrary, while another thinks the award is well deserving to certain workers.

Vacation

Anonymous wants to know if anyone feels "the new system for paid Vacation and sick time is going to screw us?" 

Anonymous thinks the new program is better than the old.

Anonymous says it "seems that we are losing three weeks vacation time under this new system."

Anonymous wonders if that is true [losing three weeks vacation] why aren't we seeking union protection?

Anonymous says that "Misinformation abounds. No one is losing vaca time"

And Anonymous says "The biggest obstacle to union organizing efforts is simply the high turnover among the rank-and-file of a typical retail store. In some places, 60 or 70 percent of the staff can change in a typical year."

We'll have more to speak about on Wednesday, until then let the discussions continue and thanks again.  

Related article

• Wal-Mart Cutting 10,000 Jobs At Sam's Club (huffingtonpost.com)

Forecasts are up for BJ's

Once again, investing websites are predicting sunny skies for BJ's Wholesale Club:

The company’s efforts to improve its merchandise and increase store traffic continue to drive its sales. The difficult macro-economic conditions are also pushing customers into discount stores and wholesale clubs, which offer a better value compared to supermarkets. We maintain our Hold rating, and our target price of $38.

Retailers like BJ's Wholesale Club & Wal-Mart are set to thrive in tough economic times.

Here's another investment blog saying BJ's will benefit in this economy.

BJ's Store Closings...

From the State, South Carolina

From staff reports

South Carolina's only BJ’s Wholesale Club will close today in Greenville.
The Massachusetts-based chain announced last week that it will close the store on Woodruff Road for failing to meet sales expectations, company spokeswoman Maria Fruci told The Greenville News.
BJ's operates 178 wholesale clubs in 16 states. The Greenville store opened in 2000 and employs about 60.
Fruci told the Greenville paper the company has no plans to close any additional clubs.
BJ's members in the Greenville area will receive pro-rated membership fee refunds

 What are your thoughts?  We've gotten a few email's asking if we've heard any rumors that would affect the NY/NJ area, we'll keep everyone posted.  But what's the feeling around the clubs?

Here's an article regarding the development that will overtake once BJ's vacates.