| |
USA:Retailers brave triple whammy |
|
2004-9-7
|
 |
Logistics too a big beating as Florida''s retail giants were left stranded and paralyzed from one end of the state to the other Sunday by a triple whammy - storm damage, a mishmash of travel curfews and the staggering loss of power and gasoline.
"This is unprecedented," said Don Harrison, spokesman for The Home Depot, which has marshaled an army of 1,000 trucks to flood the state with everything from tarps to generators as soon as winds subside.
"This is the biggest resupply mission we''ve ever undertaken. We''re pulling from shelves in California, Seattle to Chicago."
All these natural and unnatural phenomenas have left millions of Florida residents wondering on when the stores will open in their neighborhood? -From malls to convenience stores, operators had no good time frame for when they will return to business.
"It''s still too early to tell," when Publix Super Markets Inc. outlets in Central Florida will reopen after Hurricane Frances swamped a broad swath of the state, company spokeswoman Maria Rodamis said Sunday afternoon.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is still assessing the ability of stores to start full scale operations in Central Florida, company representative Sharon Weber said Sunday afternoon.
"We want to open as soon as we possibly can but want to be safe to do so," Weber said.
Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. is dealing with everything from damaged outlets in the Bahamas to the frustration of sitting on tons of supplies poised to restock more than 400 outlets throughout Florida, said Kathy Lussier, company spokeswoman in Jacksonville. Rigs are loaded with tons of ice, water and regular supplies.
"We''re anxious to get those trucks rolling," Lussier said.
Many area shopping malls planned to reopen Tuesday, including Florida Mall, Orlando Fashion Square, Mall at Millenia, Oviedo Marketplace, Seminole Towne Center and Altamonte Mall.
The problem for many businesses, large and small, will be power and power poles, not willpower.
Leigh Shannon and Joe Riedley, co-owners of Ritzy Rags, Wigs & More on North Mills Avenue, returned to their shop Sunday. Three weeks ago, Charley blew out a window and demolished their display, costing about $6,000. Frances, though, left their building largely unscathed.
Shannon and Riedley reassembled the display Sunday evening even though they would not reopen until Tuesday. "We are going to have to do this work regardless," Shannon said. "We might as well do it now." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
浙公網安33010602010414
