I like Eddie Lampert and I like those Sears stores. I like Craftsman tools and I (sort of) also like the Kmart part of Sears Holdings (NYSE: SHLD).
For those who might be confused as to what Eddie is doing with his potential company "break up," he's taking a distressed operation and laying it directly at the feet of the rubes who have screwed it up. It's a tactic that I myself would employ. Eddie Lampert is the somewhat silent watchful type, observant to a fault. He's a "big picture" thinker in the classic style. He plans and plots and weighs. Yeah, that's the ticket.
You see, Eddie "Golden Boy" Lampert isn't the kind of fellow who'll just blindly clear the decks of seasoned personnel in an effort to generate profit. If such were the case, we'd have seen way more of those pink slips flying long before now. I believe that by fracturing the company structure and by giving more divisional independence, he is now setting the stage for some timely and precise head-chopping down the road.
Eddie Lampert, worst CEO of 2007? Not in my book, not by a long shot. Yes, perhaps if you measure things strictly in growth dollars, Sears Holdings looks pretty ugly right now, but there's far more to the retail game than just rapid growth. Give the man some time to reveal his hand, one carefully picked card at a time. Besides, Eddie Lampert doesn't hold much regard for judgment by share price alone, and frankly my friends, neither do I.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-15-2008 @ 6:59AM
mrbill said...
Yes? Eddie has been found out for what he really is. He is the worst person to ever take controle of a company. Well Eddie how does it feel Mr Big Man? I know a lot of good people you just sweep aside just so you could look like Mister Big Man. You should try selling hot dogs at a hot dog stand. Thats a real good place for you to end your carear.
9-04-2008 @ 1:23AM
Calvin said...
Wait till the holidays and there are no associates to help you.
My guess
mid 2009 Death Knoll for shld(initial announcement)
1-20-2008 @ 11:50AM
Ralph said...
Why did I stop shopping at Sears? There are multiple reasons. First, it is my opinion that Sears sells (mostly, excepting the screwdrivers and socket wrenches) inferior products at elevated prices. Second, I have found that Sears does not stand behind these products. Here I will site an incident where I purchased a digital Radial Arm Saw only to discover that its broken control module was no longer manufactured. Also, when I have called Sears for parts on my Kenmore washer I have been given bad information that wasted my time. In conclusion, we live in a disposable economy. We are trained to toss broken items and replace them. “Get the new and improved model!” The advertisements say although often, the only ‘improvement’ is a higher price. During every interaction that I have with Sears I can imagine the sound of a high-powered money-vacuum in its collective voice and I find myself acting as warily as I would with a man hawking watches on a street corner.
1-20-2008 @ 12:20PM
wnbyf said...
You have no idea of all the heads that have rolled since Eddie took over, neither do the retail anaylsts. Eddie is going to have to worry about EEOC and violating employment laws when it all comes out about what he has done. The writer of this article has no idea about the structure of Sears and what Lampert has done. Look at the freaking Board of Directors. Only ONE with any retail experience. And read all about Eddie's favorite piece of advice from Martinez, i.e. "getting rid of the old guard". Only Eddie thought he could do it and violate long established federal guidelines. His act now is one of desperation.
1-27-2008 @ 4:06PM
Regina Range said...
I am interested in your source about martinez telling Eddie lampert to , "get rid of the old guard"Please e-mail me at SingsNkey@aol.com
2-15-2008 @ 7:01AM
mrbill said...
Bang someone has finally hit the head on the nail. Being that I have worked there for 20 some years and left recentley. It was because good old Eddie was taken good people and throwing them aside for cheaper labor coast. He went as far as to take the best people and fire them just to have them come back part time. I for one am happy it finally caught up to him. How does a person sleep at night when takes the livley hood from so many strugling working people. Give them a slap in the face for a good job done. Like after christmas he would cut every one's hours just so he could make it look like he was doing so well. Well Eddie you cheap piece of crap I hope you lose your shirt.
1-20-2008 @ 5:20PM
jscarb5959 said...
What a joke the author of this article is, I worked for Sears for 23 Years and bailed out because of the management tactics of Alwind Lewlis and Lampert. I was in management and got sick and tired of the logic of Lamperts plan to not invest capital into the stores and cut operations cost by reducing expenses all the way down the line on the P&L. Same store sales decrease every month from the time Lampert took the company into a holdings company. He cut inventory and placed the biggest butt there ever was as C.E.O. I am happy with my new management position with a great company LOWES! Thanks SHLD we are eating your lunch!
1-20-2008 @ 9:03PM
Ron Powell said...
I hope Mr.Lampert looses everything just like he took everything from K-Mart shareholders and gave them nothing. I saw peoples life savings turn into nothing. He's a crook and I hope his companies go down and take him with them.
1-22-2008 @ 4:27PM
wnbyf said...
The author of this blog is as clueless as Eddie about retailing. The restructure is yet another desperate attempt by Eddie to manipulate the markets. Sure, you got a bump today in the price. Next, you'll announce the company is going to buy back a bunch of shares. Another bump. Big deal. When the dust settles, we'll find a once great icon of retailing buried beneath it. Eddie will be putting the final nail in the coffin. SHLD knows NOTHING about retailing...it's merely a holding company for Eddie's loot. Wake up everybody.
1-27-2008 @ 9:07PM
Ron F said...
Bingo! You're right! Sears will be a holding company just like Berkshire has been for Buffet. Berkshire was a shoe company that went out of business when Buffet pulled the cord. Lambert will do the same to Sears. He's already started! Craftsmen, Diehard, Lands End will end up being sold at Autozone, Wallmart and Target etc.