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Introduction
PLUNKETT'S RETAIL INDUSTRY ALMANAC,
the seventh edition of our guide to the retail field, is
designed to be used as a general source for researchers
of all types.
The data and areas of interest covered are
intentionally broad, ranging from the various aspects of
the retail industry, to emerging technology, to an in-depth
look at the 500 major firms (which we call “THE
RETAIL 500”) within the many segments that
make up the retail system.
This reference book is designed to be a general
source for researchers. It is especially intended to assist
with market research, strategic planning, employment searches,
contact or prospect list creation (be sure to see the export
capabilities of the accompanying CD-ROM that is available
to book and eBook buyers) and financial research, and as
a data resource for executives and students of all types.
PLUNKETT'S RETAIL INDUSTRY ALMANAC
takes a rounded approach for the general reader.
This book presents a complete overview of the retail field
(see “How To Use This Book”). For example, the
impact of the Internet upon retail sales is discussed in
detail, along with easy to use tables on all facets of retail
in general.
THE RETAIL 500 is our unique
grouping of the biggest, most successful corporations in
all segments of the retail industry. Tens of thousands of
pieces of information, gathered from a wide variety of sources,
have been researched and are presented in a unique form
that can be easily understood. This section includes thorough
indexes to THE RETAIL 500, by geography, industry, sales,
brand names, subsidiary names and many other topics. (See
Chapter 4.)
Especially helpful is the way in which PLUNKETT'S
RETAIL INDUSTRY ALMANAC enables readers who have
no business background to readily compare the financial
records and growth plans of retail companies and major industry
groups. You’ll see the mid-term financial record of
each firm, along with the impact of earnings, sales and
strategic plans on each company’s potential to fuel
growth, to serve new markets and to provide investment and
employment opportunities.
No other source provides this book’s
easy-to-understand comparisons of growth, expenditures,
technologies, corporations and many other items of great
importance to people of all types who may be studying this,
one of the largest industries in the world today.
By scanning the data groups and the unique
indexes, you can find the best information to fit your personal
research needs. The major companies in retail are profiled
and then ranked using several different groups of specific
criteria. Which firms are the biggest employers? Which companies
earn the most profits? These things and much more are easy
to find.
In addition to individual company profiles,
an overview of retail technology and its trends is provided.
This book’s job is to help you sort through easy-to-understand
summaries of today’s trends in a quick and effective
manner.
Whatever your purpose for researching the
retail field, you’ll find this book to be a valuable
guide. Nonetheless, as is true with all resources, this
volume has limitations that the reader should be aware of:
- Financial data and other corporate
information can change quickly. A book of this type can
be no more current than the data that was available as
of the time of editing. Consequently, the financial picture,
management and ownership of the firm(s) you are studying
may have changed since the date of this book. For example,
this almanac includes the most up-to-date sales figures
and profits available to the editors as of late-2005.
That means that we have typically used corporate financial
data as of mid-2005.
- Corporate mergers, acquisitions and downsizing
are occurring at a very rapid rate. Such events may have
created significant change, subsequent to the publishing
of this book, within a company you are studying.
- Some of the companies in THE RETAIL 500
are so large in scope and in variety of business endeavors
conducted within a parent organization, that we have been
unable to completely list all subsidiaries, affiliations,
divisions and activities within a firm’s corporate
structure.
- This volume is intended to be a general
guide to a vast industry. That means that researchers
should look to this book for an overview and, when conducting
in-depth research, should contact the specific corporations
or industry associations in question for the very latest
changes and data. Where possible, we have listed contact
names, toll-free telephone numbers and World Wide Web
site addresses for the companies, government agencies
and industry associations involved so that the reader
may get further details without unnecessary delay.
- Tables of industry data and statistics
used in this book include the latest numbers available
at the time of printing, generally through the end of
2004. In a few cases, the only complete data available
was for earlier years.
- We have used exhaustive efforts to locate
and fairly present accurate and complete data. However,
when using this book or any other source for business
and industry information, the reader should use caution
and diligence by conducting further research where it
seems appropriate. We wish you success in your endeavors,
and we trust that your experience with this book will
be both satisfactory and productive.
Jack W. Plunkett
Houston, Texas
December 2005
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