Pier 1 Imports, Inc., the imported gifts, décor and furniture store was surveyed by Tickermine this month. Analysts report that the company has seen a nice turnaround this spring with improved merchandising and lower-than-expected costs. We asked respondents at 27 different stores whether business was up from last year, are new and big furniture items emerging this summer, was Easter a busy season for the store, do their customers spend over $250 per shop and are their shoppers scouting the sale items section more than before due to the tight economy? 22 respondents or 81% of those polled said that they expected to have new, large furniture this summer, and mostly patio furniture sets, the poll said. Five respondents or 19% said they wouldn’t get any big pieces in. In spite of upbeat analysts reports, 11 respondents or 41% said business was slower than last year. This was the majority. Another 9 or 33% said business was up from last year and 7 or 26% said it was the same. Fifteen respondents or 56% of those interviewed reported Easter as a busy time in their store. Twelve or 44% said it was not busy. 17 respondents or 63% of those polled said that most of their customers shop for seasonal merchandise. Ten people or 37% said this was not true for their store. And 20 respondents or 74% said most of their customers spend over $250 per store visit. Only 7 or 26% said their customers spend less than this per visit. The majority (18 respondents or 67%) said their customers shop more in the sale section than they did before, because of the soft economy. Nine respondents or 33% did not see this trend at all.




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