In Wal-Mart era, upscale electronics stores hurt more

In Wal-Mart era, upscale electronics stores hurt more. Even though Americans are splurging on flat-panel televisions and DVD recorders, the nation's upscale electronics stores are struggling. ¶ Christmas is still months away, but analysts are already worried that the typical year-end boost could elude these retailers as competition escalates, forcing some to rethink their business strategies. ¶
Instead of counting profits, the nation's mid-to high-end electronics retailers are grappling with market-share losses that threaten to push them onto the sidelines of a booming $100 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. [Reuters via Lycos]