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Tag: store closures

  • RadioShack: What Went Wrong For the Company?

    RadioShack by its very name is a throwback to the 20th century, a time period fading further and further into the past as future generations look elsewhere for their high-tech gizmos.

    That may be at the heart of why the store fell off the radar of so many adults. Heck, the common reaction seems to be, “RadioShack? What, they’re still around?”

    Not good news at all for a chain of stores in its 8th straight quarter of losses.

    What exactly is to the blame for how far down hill RadioShack has rolled?

    Some say the inability to connect is due to the traditional “brick and mortar” setting of their stores. Sites like Amazon are cleaning up when it comes to virtual purchases, as more and more people are opting to buy their electronics online.

    Still, chains like Walmart and Best Buy read the writing on the wall and have done their utmost to make tech items available online as well as in their stores, staying “relevant” in the eyes of consumers.

    And this is where RadioShack seems to have dropped the ball. Big time.

    Somehow, the company just assumed that with “Radio” at the front of its name, it would magically continue to be relevant to kids who download music off the internet rather than record them off live radio via cassette tapes.

    By the time the chain realized this would not be the case, it was already already losing billions of dollars each year.

    Determined to reverse the trend, the company splashed cash on a Superbowl Ad featuring 1980s icons. However, while the throwback to times gone by is good for temporary buzz, the world is marching forward, not backward.

    Also, I don’t want to be the one to say this but the generation that matters A.K.A. the kids who ask their parents for the money they spend on things like smartphones and tablets…likely didn’t get any of the references.

    Oops.

    Morris Ajzenman, an analyst at Griffen Securities Inc., had very little in the way of optimism to offer RadioShack.

    He said, “RadioShack’s time has passed. It is a dinosaur. Ultimately, I think it’ll go out of business.”

    RadioShack hopes that downsizing will help it stay afloat long enough to find a way back. There are reports of 1,100 stores set to be closed. There is no word from the company regarding which stores will be closed or whether employees will be let go or sent to other locations.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • J.C. Penney Announces The Closing of 33 Stores Nationwide, Cuts 2,000 Jobs

    On Wednesday, Jan. 15 the J.C. Penney Company, Inc. announced that it would be closing a total of 33 stores across the United States.

    In a brief press release earlier today, the ailing retail chain stated that the executive order was made as apart of the company’s ‘turnaround effort’ to focus its attention on opportunities with the highest growth potential. The 33 stores that have been selected for closure are categorized as underperforming locations.

    The store closures are projected to assist the retailer with retaining substantial profitability, with an annual cost savings of approximately $65 million. The company also projects to incur approximately $26 million in pre-tax charges for the fourth quarter of the 2013 fiscal year, and $17 million for future quarters thereafter.

    It was also stated that the store closures will eliminate approximately 2,000 jobs. However, eligible associates who ultimately end up leaving the company will receive a separation benefits package.

    J.C. Penney’s chief executive officer Myron Ullman III also issued a statement of address in regards to the announcement. “As we continue to progress toward long-term profitable growth, it is necessary to reexamine the financial performance of our store portfolio and adjust our national footprint accordingly,” said Ullman.

     “While it’s always difficult to make a business decision that impacts our valued customers and associates, this important step addresses a strategic priority to improve the profitability of our stores and position JCPenney for future success.”

    According to CNN Money, last year was financially daunting for the mid-range department store. The company has reportedly suffered a staggering stock plunge of approximately 60% over the past 12 months, with a deficit amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars per quarter.

    The company’s press release also included an official list of the stores that will be closing.

    J.C. Penney’s announcement comes just one week after Macy’s announced that it would be closing five stores, and laying off 2,500 workers.

    Image via Facebook | JCPenney