[NEW WORDS]
♧ struggle (for) ~을 위해 전력을 다하다, 분투/고투하다
♧ retailer : n. 소매상 ↔ wholesaler
♧ brutally : ad. 짐승의, 야수적인, 잔인한
♧ comeback : n. 회복, 복귀, 컴백
♧ icon : n. 우상, 아이콘
♧ storied : a. 역사/전설/이야기로 유명한
♧ charge : v. 충만하게 하다, 충전하다
♧ emerged (from) : ~로부터 벗어나다
♧ bankruptcy : n. 파산, 도산
♧ fish for A : A를 찾다, 이끌어 내다, 손에 넣으려고 하다
♧ go through : v. 거래 등이 완료되다, 잘되다
♧ desperately : ad. 절대적으로, 몹시, 지독하게, 필사적으로
♧ clout : n. 권력, 영향력, 때림, 강타
♧ formula : n. 공식, 방식
♧ formidable : a. 무서운, 만만치 않은, 얕잡을 수 없는
♧ troubled : a. 불안한, 근심스러운, 걱정되는, 문제를 안고 있는
♧ approve of A : 찬성하다, 승인하다
♧ merger : n. 합병
♧ soar : v. 높이 치솟다, 폭등하다
We begin tonight with a huge sale in the retail business, which is very likely to have some effect on many millions of American consumers. Kmart is buying Sears and Roebuck. Both companies have been struggling for some time with larger rivals. The amount of money involved is about 11 billion dollars. It's mostly in exchange of stock. The combined company, which will be called Sears Holdings, that's certainly the older name, will be the third largest retailer in the country with 3,500 stores.
This is a brutally competitive industry, and today's merger is designed as a comeback plan for two icons of American retailing.
Kmart and Sears are retailing giants with storied pasts but uncertain futures.
"I think the combination of these two great American retailers, though, will allow us to turbo charge our business."
Sales at Sears have been hurt by the success of Kohl's and JC Penny, and Kmart, which recently emerged from bankruptcy, is still fishing for a way to compete against Wal-Mart and Target.
If the deal goes through, Sears would get more stores located outside malls, something it desperately needs. The combined companies also hoped to have enough size and clout to get better prices from suppliers, allowing them to pass those savings on to consumers. That's been the Wal-Mart formula for success.
"The question is, ... is like, ... how does it affect customers, and will this be good for customers? And if it is, then, yes, they will be more formidable."
Both chains would keep their own names, but Kmart would sell well-known Sears brands, such as Kenmore Appliances and Craftsman Tools. And Sears would sell Kmart's line of Martha Stewart Housewares and Jaclyn Smith Apparel.
Analysts say that could be confusing to customers, and many expressed doubts today that two troubled companies will be successful as one.
Investors seem to approve of the merger. The stocks of Sears and Kmart both soared today. But as analysts were suggesting, the real test is going to be what shoppers think.