Boofters,
I'd have to disagree. PPL are toast, high debt, poor management, staff churn, overpriced offering - the list goes on.
HLG - a debt free retailer with a quality working/middle class offering with management that has a proven track record of adapting in a difficult retail environment. New competitors might make things tougher for Hallensteins but as far as lumping HLG with PPL that is a disgracefully inaccurate comparison imho.