The Dollar General CEO just accidentally made clear how screwed up the economy is

[Arkansas Granny]

Here’s a grim picture of the state of the American economy: The CEO of Dollar General explained to the Wall Street Journal why things are looking up for his company.

Dollar General, with about 14,000 stores across the country and a $22 billion market value, targets customers making $40,000 a year or less. They are expanding, CEO Todd Vasos told the Journal.

Why?

“The economy is continuing to create more of our core customer,” Vasos said.

https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/policy-and-politics/2017/12/4/16735340/dollar-general-ceo-economy

There are new Dollar General stores and others like it opening in my area all the time.

[appleannie1943]

1. Since we are both retired, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Ollie's have become our stores of choice

If I need new clothes, I either go to the local 'new to you' store that funds the food bank next door or The Salvation Army first. If it is for a special event, if I can't find what I need there, I go to Boscov's Department Store and head for a sales rack and use the discount card they send me because I have their credit card so I end up with something good for less than what the garbage at Walmart would cost. My life can be divided by before Reagan and after Reagan. Before Reagan, even though we were raising 7 kids, we could afford a new car every couple years. During Reagan, hubby was laid off for 3 years and was part of the uncounted unemployed after his benefits ran out. After Reagan it was very used cars that we maintained for years. Our van is almost 30 years old and still runs.

[FarCenter]

6. Boscov's is really a good store.

[appleannie1943]

15. I love it. I got a really dressy dress and shoes at clearance to wear to my grandson's wedding for

less than forty dollars. I got compliments on both from people I never met before.

[sprinkleeninow]

19. Wowza! Good deal!

Doncha love when stuff like that happens. Annnd you got complimented by people ya dint know. Love that!

[sprinkleeninow]

18. I love Boscov's. Reminds me of an ol' fashion dept. store online! 😊

Order stuff from them lots. Got almost all our window treatments from them for a new place-cheep cheep and some BOGO half price, shoes, clothing, make-up, bed clothes, comforters, many other items.

They carry nice scents in Philosophy bath gel. I told C/S to come on down here to the South!

[appleannie1943]

20. I go to the actual store. There is one about 15 miles from me.

[sprinkleeninow]

21. I understood that to be. Lucky you!

They're down as far as MD and that's it. MB they'll expand someday with a brick and mortar.

I miss the ole timey physical dept. stores. They're going into the dustbin of 'no more' though it seems.

[Sam McGee]

10. Same here

Our cars are:
-- 1997 Mazda pickup, 190,000 miles
-- 2004 Ford Explorer, 165,000 miles
-- 2007 Mini Cooper, 110,000 miles
We are in our mid-70's; there'll be no new cars for us.

New clothes? What's that?

[Break time]

2. LOL

They are putting one in the town with about 450 near me

[SharonClark]

3. Dollar General's items aren't a bargain.

They are packaged a little differently but are generally higher per piece than my local grocery store.

[Arkansas Granny]

5. Many of the small towns in this area don't have local grocery stores anymore.

The "dollar stores" fill that gap these days.

[appleannie1943]

16. You just have to be careful and comparison shop.

Some things are a better bargain at Dollar Tree. Problem is one is less than a mile and the other is 7 miles away. If I only need one thing, Dollar General is the better option because of the cost of gasoline.

[elfin]

4. My go to place for gift bags, cards, wrapping this time of year

Plus certain glassware and kitchen utensils.

The stores reveal how much the markup there is at other places -- and yet they still make a profit.

Am always uncertain about which "Dollar" store I am in until I see the prices. Some "dollar" places stay at the one dollar - others just have a good markdown on things.

Buyer beware. Know your prices at other places before shopping.

[iluvtennis]

7. I agree and I also go to for cleaning supplies as well as storage and garbage bags and dog treats.

[ffr]

8. Gonna be hard to put that back into the horse.

Sadly, I'm surrounded by tRumpsters who fit into this demographic. They're all too eager to give up their lunch money so that tRump can build another tower.

[louis-t]

9. I knew we were fucked when Dollar General

became anchor store at every strip mall in the state.

[SergeStorms]

11. Do they sell hangars for private jets?

Guess we won't be seeing to many people that got the largest tax cuts in the old Dollar General then. Pity.

[democratisphere]

12. Increased wages and jobs for the American worker my ass!

drumpf and the redumbliCONs are living their lie and we will suffer the consequences.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. So many products disappear then return to the shelves - from China

Walmart doesn't have them all. Neither does my supermarkets. I was looking for Greenworks bathroom cleaner. Went to 3 stores so far. No cigar. A knockoff equivalent soon I'd bet.

[nini]

14. I just got produce at the 99 cent store for the first time

I'll be god damned it was good stuff. Someone told me about it and I thought they were nuts...Who knew?

I can afford to go elsewhere - for now- but why pay more?

[Xolodno]

17. The dollar stores filled the vaccum...

...Wal-Mart left behind when they came in, suffocated the local businesses and discovered "whoops, our analytics guys were wrong about the area supporting a Wal-Mart...lets fire...oh they left citing our ridiculous pressure to find places to open more stores.. oh well, lets close up shop and move on".

The dollar stores have some good deals...others, not so much. Need to pay attention to the price vs. other stores, price per ounce, etc. But then, in some areas, due to Wal-Mart wiping out everything and then vanishing, you're just glad you have a store you can go to for most items instead of driving 30 minutes to and 30 minutes back.

[IronLionZion]

22. Best And Worst Things To Buy At Dollar Stores

for those interested:

http://www.lifeaspire.com/7190/best-and-worst-things-to-buy-at-dollar-stores/

Other businesses that do well when people have less income are low cost groceries and home maintenance/repair car maintenance/repair and parts and knitting/sewing and other stuff for do it yourself when you can't afford to buy new things. Youtube has helped me learn some basic plumbing and home repair when I can't afford to pay someone. People cook at home more during recession.

There are blogs where manly straight men have bought sewing machines and learned how to alter/repair suits and dress shirts for job interviews because they can't afford a tailor, and may have bought cheap or thrift store clothes.

I've always laundered, starched, and ironed my dress shirts myself until very recently. It always blew my mind that some guys got their shirts laundered at a dry cleaners.