But WE'RE still strong.

Given the previous entry, why would a store try to act stronger than it really is?

To grab that market share while they can.

Today's Oregonian has an article:

Titans may come out of slump stronger

Staying in business won't be easy -- sales declines are a given and job cuts are likely to continue. But we won't remain in the dumps forever, and the companies that will be best positioned when the economy eventually improves may include the following:

Expanding retailers: Kohl's Corp. and Forever 21 are rare among retailers -- they're opening stores. They have their pick, since failed competitors mean they can get good locations cheaply.

O.K. I don't really believe that Kohl's is all that strong. But like the old joke, you don't have to be faster than the bear you just have to be faster than the other guy.

It's time for Walmart to lord it over Target. Kohl's to lord it over Macy's. Time for Best Buy and Beds, Baths and Beyond to crow about how they vanquished the other guys.

So they are going to do the opposite of what I talked about in the previous entry. The branch managers are going to get the message from on high to buff up their numbers anyway possible.

Which makes all a big game, what?