Circuit City, Linens 'n Things, and Levitz are all victims of the economic crisis - and the question in everybody's mind is: who's next?
Yahoo! Finance has a somber article about 15 companies that are in such
precarious financial conditions that they might not survive 2009. For example:
Sbarro. (Privately owned; about 5,500 employees). It's not the pizza that's the problem. Many of this chain's 1,100 storefronts are in malls, which is a double whammy: Traffic is down, since consumers have put away their wallets. Sbarro can't really boost revenue by adding a breakfast or late-night menu, like other chains have done. And competitors like Domino's and Pizza Hut have less debt and stronger cash flow, which could intensify pressure on Sbarro as key debt payments come due in 2009.
Krispy Kreme. (KKD; about 4,000 employees; stock down 50%). The donuts might be good, but Krispy Kreme overestimated Americans' appetite - and that's saying something. This chain overexpanded during the donut heyday of the 1990s - taking on a lot of debt - and now requires high volumes to meet expenses and interest payments. The company has cut costs and closed underperforming stores, but still hasn't earned an operating profit in three years. And now that consumers are cutting back on everything, such improvements may fail to offset top-line declines, leading Krispy Kreme to seek some kind of relief from lenders over the next year.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/15-Companies-That-Might-Not-usnews-14279875.html
No sympathy.
Now, on that list can Blockbuster really claim it's all due to the economy? They were too slow & stupid to adapt to the times, let alone survive much longer regardless of any other factors. Kinda sucks to think Six Flags could go under, so many good times had at the one in Maryland. If they last through this Summer I'll be sure to take my nephew, just in case it's the last time.
(and I've just gotta say, of the companies on that yahoo list the only one I'd truly mourn would be Krispy Kreme; I don't go there often but man, there are some times you just NEED one of their doughnuts!)