Webs of Power

[0:00]" Hello again welcome it's Jordan and WBZ and to join me in the line is Darlene Quinn she's the author of the new novel called webs of power message do -- spiders -- to do with the department store industry and she joins us here on WBZ hello there -- My sister's name is darling so it's always a pleasure to speak to another darling. Now webs of power is a novel but it deals with the -- in cheek and behind the scenes goings on in the department store industry something you know a little something about --"

[0:29]" Yes I do I was in that industry had during a very traumatic time in the world. --"

[0:35]" During the what eighties when a lot of corporate takeover was happening."

[0:50]" What was going on back then in the boardrooms I mean when it appeared that a lot of foreign companies were buying people up and jobs were at stake I mean were there -- key players who either. Look the other way or warrant. On the ball that. Led to some of these take overs."

[1:06]" I think probably been greedy period while it's at they have a new weapon called leveraged buy out. Which was really buying companies -- other people's money and there weren't what triggered me what inspired me to write this book. Is and I had to tone down some things as dramatic as my book is it would toned down to make it believable. There was a man a Canadian that came man. -- already had a corporation was going into bankruptcy. And he had his -- on bloomingdale's. And he didn't care what it to work he kept going. In bright. -- way too much for the company. And let it straight into chapter."

[1:52]" A lot of it is ego driven stuff just like today's headlines I --"

[1:56]" Yes I think probably what happened in the eighties is very similar to what happened today in the mortgage market and most recently in the credits."

[2:23]" People I've known at -- I've read about actually the most unbelievable. Character in my book is talk a tone down character of the man that took over federated I let him have his -- nervous breakdowns. Liposuction. -- Filled his clue what mineral water which was all true but the real man that took over -- better rated. But I didn't give them called white and family in one city and mistress and family and then."

[2:54]" Well that makes that makes for webs of power -- of very interesting intriguing wedge that we we've turned it. Now what about the women in this industry women certainly -- the consumer market is is women and what about women at the top are there enough women at the top."

[3:10]" I don't believe there's any industry that has more women. Executives spending and the world of retail fashion draws women. Two retail they're able to use their intelligence. In. My novel I have to read very strong. But very different women. -- world are rocked by a high level. Corporate struck."

[3:36]" Well let's say they're very interesting characters and -- lot of drama occurs. Among them some of them are very nice characters some of them are not very nice but that's that's like business."

[3:46]" That's true and I actually my most to gain helped but so are manipulative. Woman people want to hate but find they really can't."

[3:56]" Which is always fun when your reading characters you want to make that a little bit more complicated than just the cut and dry characters we we -- too often."

[4:03]" That's right I don't have any that are all batter."

[4:07]" All good act even my most my strongest characters have --"

[5:49]" Oh darling through the consumer news that's just terrible thing because they're they're huge stores they have so many products delivers so much I mean what what's the advantage or disadvantage at -- to us buyers."

[6:00]" Well I hear from coast to coast women that are saying. Lamenting the disappearance of their favorite stores -- attached to their brand if they know they can go there they can get service now what thirteen. Is cookie cutter stories. There is -- everywhere you go. Now I happen to not talk to the man that Brian -- They want to put service pack into their stores. But it's very hard when you're a huge company and you have to ask permission to -- attempt."

[6:33]" Very good point and when you're in the midst of the of the sale and you you're dealing with -- around the corner from view though behind the counter. -- realizing that that person has to answer to a supervisor in the -- leisure can make a decision without asking ten people that's that's big business in America is --"

[6:52]" Idiot than actually is that a good thing or is that a bad thing that we're having bigger and bigger story it depends on where your city. If what you are looking for is service and that's facial hair than you probably don't blanket a lot of the bigger at this store. The -- more clout they have when they go to the bargaining table buying merchandise. So you're getting better."

[7:17]" A growing your book that group put if you will the group of stores is known as consolidated. Which sounds a little bit like federated -- that was that your intent."

[7:26]" Actually a parallel for the the federated takeover yeah you read the names then. Locations sometimes to protect the guilty."

[7:34]" And where do you see this all ending up ultimately. We would love to see more businesses based in America. -- with American money and American capital American workers and so forth but boy seems to be an international business these days the department store business and -- read about them."

[7:52]" Yes it does that far as the manufacturing. In the making it merchandise at a lot of that has been out for it to other countries and it is. -- creates problems not only for the consumer but for the merchants --"

[8:07]" And one more question the moral or ethical standards that we like to see in our leaders should extend to our business leaders is this an industry that needs like like so many other industries that needs some moral champions to to set it right or are there enough good people running. Running these ships."

[8:27]" Well I'm a little prejudiced because I happen to help work for bullets bullet cloture. I happen to know the CE OR -- He could say good moral person what he is doing is making baker stores. He's wanting to bring to the customers what they want he wants to bring -- However it out -- if you're in New York and you're going into a Macy's you'd probably get there but they have the traffic. If you are income from all -- your not getting. It's a balancing at -- and those men have to answer to the stockholders."

[9:06]" And every time a store goes away for instance I mentioned filene's here there are other stores throughout the country there's a vacuum that's filled -- and as though. The store material merchandise is available somewhere else and -- think oh my god the end of the world. But the and we find out that another store slopes right in to take over sad but true at least do we know that the the economy rolls on need someone will be selling these goods I guess."

[9:31]" Yes -- when I'm not sure it's going to be the same quality. Or that are going to have someone it's going to. Take care of our needs to tell us when new merchandise is coming hand. But yet what that there's enough good -- just may not be what you're looking."

[9:49]" the next step -- HBO called June says you know we we -- like the idea of having a series of mini series on department store intrigued and how about you right at the met Jennifer and her."

[10:00]" That would be lots of fun there are just fantastic flamboyant characters that are screaming to get their story."

[10:06]" Just like mad men we could have the mad men and women in the department store -- thank you so much Stirling -- the book is called web both power darling Quinn is the author do you have a website."

[10:15]" Yet -- dot net and it has played very cool video on."

[10:20]" Oh really. I'll have to check that out I didn't know that all right thanks for joining me really appreciated your nice lady -- the movie miracle on 34 street alike that was my first introduction of Macy's what did I know lots changed over the years."

[10:32]" Yes that was one of my favorite movies when I was a -- to."

[10:36]" delinquents thank you so much thank you art."