Shoppers limited their back-to-school purchases and stayed focused on necessities in August, resulting in the 12th straight month of declining sales for retailers. But there were signs the holiday season could be less dismal than feared. Despite the weakness many reported, retailers overall did better in August than analysts expected.

Consumer electronics and appliance retailer hhgregg sees Richmond and other markets in Virginia as key to its growth strategy. “Richmond is an important market for us as we expand into the mid-Atlantic,“ said Jeff Pearson, the chain’s vice president of marketing. The Indianapolis-based retailer will open two stores—in former Circuit City locations at Short Pump Town Center in Henrico County and near Chesterfield Towne Center in Chesterfield County—by Thanksgiving, he confirmed yesterday.

Focus on financially healthy chains. Pursue job opportunities at supermarket chains and discounters that have benefited from shoppers who are buying only the necessities.
  Look for jobs where you regularly shop and that you’re passionate about. That knowledge of the products will come through in interviews.
  Meet the managers: Don’t just drop off your résumé, but try to meet the store managers to stand out from the crowd of applications.

Don’t count on a job selling sweaters at your favorite department store. Retail jobs from sales associates to managers are harder to find as merchants close stores, lay off thousands of workers—or go out of business. Whenever a retailer does hire employers, it’s usually inundated by people hoping for a job. J.C. Penney Co. got 15,000 applications, more than double what it expected, for 500 positions at its new Manhattan store.

Every six weeks or so, the guy from Philip Morris, as his customers still think of him, swings by for a chat. But this summer, salespeople like Winfred Hayes are changing hats. He now works for Philip Morris USA’s parent, Altria Group.

HALLANDALE, Fla. The alligators that All American Gator harvests around Florida used to turn into wallets or handbags for Gucci, Hermes and Prada. But two years ago, owner Brian Wood was earning $57 a foot selling his alligator skins that ultimately went to the Italian designers. Last year, that dropped to about $44 per foot, and the market bottomed out this year at between $12 and $15 a foot.

Kmart
  Sears
  T.J. Maxx
  Marshalls
  Burlington Coat Factory
  Wal-Mart (jewelry only)

To gauge consumers’ strain, look no further than the rows and rows of plastic bags awaiting layaway payments at Kmart. They are filled with back-to-school basics—not just T-shirts and jeans but notebooks, magic markers and pencils. It is unheard of for layaway rooms to be so packed at back-to-school time and for the packages to include relatively cheap school supplies.

The new Wal-Mart is in the Hancock Village Shopping Center at Hull Street and Winterpock roads.

Representatives from the retail giant met with local leaders this morning to discuss plans to bring a store to the eastern end of the county on state Route 60, near the entrance to the Luck Stone plant.

Economic worries are likely to keep shoppers tight-fisted in the months ahead, executives predicted. Discounters have benefited from consumer cutbacks, while luxury retailers have seen demand evaporate.

Macy’s Inc. posted a lower second-quarter profit Wednesday as the department store chain’s results were weighed down by costs for consolidations and store closings.

It’s still early, but analysts’ grades already are coming in: the back-to-school shopping season is off to a lousy start. “Back-to-school selling hasn’t really started yet,“ said John Morris, BMO Capital Markets analyst, based on recent conversations he’s had with store executives. “Retailers have a very foggy picture.“ The sluggish start is expected to show up in retailers’ July sales reports, to be released today, as job worries heighten.

It’s still early, but analysts’ grades already are coming in: the back-to-school shopping season is off to a lousy start.

Saxon Shoes opened a store outside Fredericksburg yesterday, expanding beyond the Richmond area for the first time in its 56-year history. “We saw there was demand for what we do,“ said Gary Weiner, Saxon’s president. “It’s a strong market that’s practically a Wash ington suburb, and we found people didn’t want to drive an hour north [to Washington] or an hour south [to Richmond]. So it made sense.“