So too did Williams-Sonoma, which remains, along with Sur La Table, as a kitchen specialty store rather than a broader-based
category killer.
The SACK has many of the characteristics found in a typical
category killer.
Spector says that those who criticize
category killers as destroyers of neighborhoods who ruthlessly wipe out their competitors are missing an essential point.
Yes, even Sam Walton, chairman of Wal-Mart, sees
category killers as a competitive force to be reckoned with.
A
category killer -- the first
category killer -- is near death.
This basically means that if you're out there advertised as a
category killer in a particular industry, you can't go out and buy another superstore in the same field," Tom Burnett of Merger Insight told The Washington Post.
Once, specialty chain retailers -- Toys "R" Us was the first
category killer ever -- were thought to be ultimate survivors in the great retail shootout.
Where Customers plan to shop 1998 1997 1996 Discounter 75% 75% 76%
Category Killer 51% 46% 43% Department Stores 44% 49% 55% Specialty Stores 42% 43% 43% Non-Store Retailer/Internet 25% 23% 33% Source: IMRA
An executive form a major
category killer, noted, "We're always working with our core vendors to try new things" to trade up he consumers.
NEW YORK -- The
category killer blitzkrieg that has driven most department stores away from consumer electronics will not sweep through the rest of their home products categories any time soon.
As one
category killer executive said, the movement is inevitable.
