@LisaSTL wrote:

I'm probably spoiled by service at Panera since it has been based here with many of the local stores being company owned. My understanding is they are not "becoming" Krispy Kreme. They will continue to operate as a separate business. The owner will be staying on.

My opinion, which isn't worth much to retailers, most brick and mortar stores chose to compete against online rather than take advantage of the opportunity to provide stellar customer service. Instead retailers just kept cutting back on employees. Spending an hour looking for an employee then taking my chances if they can or will help makes online shopping more attractive. On the other hand, attentive employees keep me choosing the brick and mortar even if it is more expensive.

When I was first getting started in the business world there were several clothing stores I shopped regularly. These were the type of stores where employees knew their customer's taste so they would regularly set aside new arrivals and give us a call. These days the only places I get that kind of service are Trader Joe's, Barnes and Noble and the Clinique counter at my local Macy's.

They told me both in Panera Bread, in my foodie group and on the news (computer) some will be bought out by Krispy Kreme. They may be Franchises and selling some, anxious to see what happens, although someone in my foodies group that does acquistion's, said it will take 6 months to complete. I also like Panera, but have seen some loss recently in service. Service in Macy's not found in the clothing section, with all the sales and not enough help, has changed through the years. The cosmetics here have great help, all the makeup counters push helping you....very competitive.

I was reading what the owner of Panera was saying about the buyout. I have no idea what anyone else is saying. It would not make sense for the holding company to change the locations to Krispy Kreme. The nearest Krispy Kreme to me is 20 miles away. There are at least seven Paneras (actually still called St. Louis Bread Company) within 5-7 miles, each busy all the time. My area is more into healthy options which is why KK and Dunkin Donuts have never lasted here.

@LisaSTL wrote:

I was reading what the owner of Panera was saying about the buyout. I have no idea what anyone else is saying. It would not make sense for the holding company to change the locations to Krispy Kreme. The nearest Krispy Kreme to me is 20 miles away. There are at least seven Paneras (actually still called St. Louis Bread Company) within 5-7 miles, each busy all the time. My area is more into healthy options which is why KK and Dunkin Donuts have never lasted here.

They are trying to come to CA...will keep you posted. I like Panera (as I said). My town is full of kids, and they love doughnuts, would probably go over well here....still like to work at Panera and their pastries and coffee.

This is from Fortune.

"It is too early to say what JAB plans to do with Panera once the deal closes. JAB has been consolidating mostly around the breakfast portion of the day via the acquisitions of Krispy Kreme, Keurig, Caribou Coffee and Einstein Noah. Breakfast has reportedly been Panera's fastest-growing portion of the day over the past year, so adding Panera might make sense to establish a tier of breakfast options (Krispy Kreme at the low end, Einstein Noah in the middle, and Panera as the most premium player)."

My point is if JAB wants to expand Krispy Kreme, it doesn't make much sense to purchase another company for 7.5B just for their locations since many are leased properties. It would be much cheaper to buy or lease storefronts. Being an entirely different concept, there would not even be much value in basics such as furnishings and kitchen equipment. It would only make sense if they were buying out a concept that was direct competition. It doesn't mean under performing stores would not be looked at for a change depending on the demographics of the surrounding area.

@LisaSTL wrote:

This is from Fortune.

"It is too early to say what JAB plans to do with Panera once the deal closes. JAB has been consolidating mostly around the breakfast portion of the day via the acquisitions of Krispy Kreme, Keurig, Caribou Coffee and Einstein Noah. Breakfast has reportedly been Panera's fastest-growing portion of the day over the past year, so adding Panera might make sense to establish a tier of breakfast options (Krispy Kreme at the low end, Einstein Noah in the middle, and Panera as the most premium player)."

My point is if JAB wants to expand Krispy Kreme, it doesn't make much sense to purchase another company for 7.5B just for their locations since many are leased properties. It would be much cheaper to buy or lease storefronts. Being an entirely different concept, there would not even be much value in basics such as furnishings and kitchen equipment. It would only make sense if they were buying out a concept that was direct competition. It doesn't mean under performing stores would not be looked at for a change depending on the demographics of the surrounding area.

Companies are bought out all the time....if Panera isn't doing well, they could easily sell. I don't know if ours is a Franchise, so many are. Mornings are busy, they don't really have dinner type menu and were great for lunch and breakfast.....will be interesting to see what happens. They gave e a free bagel for the month of April, so, trying to keep customers, but today when I was there, it was empty which was not normal. Took them forever to refill their Hazelnut coffee,seemed short of help. i don't think they're still shopped

Lisa.found out more...a German company bought out panera, but stores won't be closing. They also own the largest coffee Company and many other business's including Krispy Kreme. They will change things for the better...putting in Krispy kreme doughnuts in and a better coffee....they are remodeling mine, but the offer has definitely been made and Panarer's name will be kept.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/2017 02:45PM by Irene_L.A..

Well!

I've merchandised at Walmart and feel (almost) completely comfortable walking into the back and getting a product. Actually, I tried last night to get a gallon on milk. Unfortunately, the milk is kept in big steel refrigerators and I have claustrophobia and didn't have the nerve to go in.

All they would have done is scold me if I were caught. Besides, there are probably cameras all over the place, and they would have known if I were thieving.? I always feel watched at WalMart.

All Walmarts are different.

I loved the shops for Payless years ago, and hoped they would come back. Still have a little tin of solid perfume from one of them.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2017 12:32AM by Robin2.

I just learned this while shopping a leasing agent. I told complimented her shoes and she told me she got them from Payless. She also mentioned that Payless was going out of business.

My daughter and I were shopping at another, similar shoe store, when she sat down to try on a few different pairs. "Do you have a shoehorn?" I asked the clerk. She looked at me like I was from Mars. She didn't even know what I was asking for. That was surreal to me.

@spicy1 wrote:

Being young, and inexperienced (embarrassed) has everything to do with it. You can't tell an employee at Sonic/BWW/Wingstop/Panda/Panera/FillItIn that the food is cold/old and you want a new one without them getting all jittery and defensive and turning red, white and blue and calling you an a$$hole to their co-workers. You can't ask a question at Payless without an employee saying "If we have it, it would be over there."
If Get, get. If no get, Vernas lol

It could be just management setting the tone.

Chick-Fil-A has young workers and I consistently find them to be the most polite, helpful, and non-confrontational. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a rude CFA employee. When they've made mistakes, I usually get one or more free chicken sandwich coupons, a nice apology, and my order re-done.

I've read how the CFA corporate philosophy strongly emphasizes high level customer service and it trickles down. Interestingly, they also pay their workers a little bit more than other FF places.

I walked by a Payless in my local mall the other day and went in to browse. First time i have been in a Payless in several years. I was surprised to see they had some major well known brands for sale. Perhaps that has been going on for a while as an attempt to save the company. Evidently it did not work if they are declaring bankruptcy.
I had an experience in a closer Payless that closed several years ago. I had gone in there and they had 40-50 pairs of shoes marked down to $3. A great bargain. I went back the next day to buy some and they were nowhere to be seen. I asked the clerk about it and she told me that the day before the manager had called them in the morning and asked them to mark down all these shoes to $3 and then she showed up a few hours later and purchased them all which she was going to ship to a relative in Mexico where they would be sold at a profit. Evidently this happened before at that store. If this type of thing goes on in many Payless stores that might explain their bankruptcy. Just sayin.

"Chick-Fil-A has young workers and I consistently find them to be the most polite, helpful, and non-confrontational."

The thing about Chick-Fil-A is, by all accounts they have a strong corporate culture in how they treat their employees - diversity issues not withstanding of course. If you treat people well, they feel they have a reason to do their job well. Remember what happened right before Kmart started to fall apart - they became known as one of the absolute worst places to work. It's not just about who they hire - no matter how old, experienced or confident those people are - it's also about how they treat people, and how many reasons they give their employees to either like or despise their jobs. I've worked in fast food, retail (including Walmart), retail inventory, sold bus tickets, handled lost luggage delivery for an airline and been an IT manager for one of the largest multi-national corporations in the world. And every place I go, you can see the corporate attitudes toward the employees reflected in the behavior and attitudes of those employees. On Glassdoor, 75% of people reviewing Chick-fil-a would recommend the job to someone else, only 56% of people working at Walmart do. That is telling, considering in most communities Chick-fil-a is still starting at minimum wage whereas Walmart at least shoots for a buck or two over it.

Also folks, don't forget that there are an awful lot of people in this country right now, who simply cannot afford to spend $40 or more on a pair of shoes. That's why Payless going down is so unfortunate. There have been times in my life where I was lucky to be able to afford to spend $10 on a pair - and when I was a single mom with a growing boy (he's 21 now but he never stopped growing long enough to have spurts back then), who went through as many as 3 shoe sizes in a year, Payless was a lifesaver for me. Not to mention that I've seen $70 shoes from DSW wear out just as fast as $20 shoes from Payless. Payless served a really important and sadly growing market - the working poor.

This entire thread with filled with so much disappointing information that I can't believe it. Payless is shutting down? I happen to like the store. When my kid is going to a dance, or I have a special event coming up that I need a new pair of shoes just for one night, I do not want to spend over $50 for just that evening. Payless has always come through as having fashionable, attractive shoes at a very moderate (and sometimes bargain) price. Do they last forever? No. But they do well in some situations.

JC Penney..... Kmart.....PANERA BREAD being sold? Ach. This is just too much.

I wonder, if it's true, that there's a growing market for the store and it serves a great service for so many people for so many reasons then why it's closing. At Chik-filla there are 14 people working at a time so there are ways and means to determine how people are treated at their jobs. But at Payless, there are one of two employees at a time.