The Volkswagen Jetta Sells Best According to VW Dealerships

The Volkswagen Group, the German company behind the Volkswagen beatle, is having a bumper year in spite of a mercurial auto market with deliveries of 568,000 vehicles worldwide reported in April. This is a 10.5 percent increase on last year. Tickermine surveyed 27 dealerships nationwide this month and asked which model sells best, are their specific deals on trucks or SUVs and are their deals on satellite radio? The Volkswagen Jetta was the best selling model, our respondents say, with 10 mentions or 37% of those polled. Eight respondents or 30% cited the Volkswagen Beetle, 2 respondents or 7% of those interviewed cited either the Volkswagen Gulf, Volkswagen GTI, Volkswagen Passet Sedan or the Volkswagen Rabbit. And one respondent or 4% said their best seller was the Volkswagen Toureg. Free deals on satellite radio are not a popular marketing tool at Volkswagen dealerships, our survey show. 23 respondents or 85% said they did not offer satellite, only 4 respondents or 15% said they did.

Most Ann Taylor Stores Report Business as Being Above Average

Like many in the retail sector Ann Taylor, the woman's apparel retailer is seeing a choppy second quarter. Earnings estimates show their estimated growth for next quarter is only 4.5%. Tickermine surveyed 26 Ann Taylor stores in various department stores across the country. We asked our respondents how sales were this year compared with last year, do they have excess inventory and did the respondents think that the economy had impacted sales this year? Contrary to analyst pessimism, 11 respondents or 42% of those polled reported that business was “above average” and interestingly four respondents or 15% said their business was actually “very strong.” Seven respondents or 27% of those interviewed said that business was “average” and only four respondents or 15% said it was “below average.” 15 respondents or 58% said they had no excess inventory that would need to go on sale soon. 11 respondents or 42% said they had excess and mentioned items such as spring blouses, bolero sweaters and shoes. Perhaps most telling was that 14 respondents or 54% felt that the economy had no impact whatsoever on sales. 12 respondents or 46% said the sluggish economy impacted business.

On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina Reports Business as Steady, the Same as Last Year, Survey says.

Within a tough restaurant market, shares of Brinker International Inc. fell in mid-May. Analysts said the restaurant operator is facing a tough environment and downgraded the stock. Tickermine surveyed the On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina restaurant this week, one within the Brinker International Inc., chain.