The Struggling Stores Most Likely to Go Belly-Up Next




As more and more shopping moves online, these traditional retailers could be the next to declare bankruptcy.

Other retailers are on the brink. These merchants are most at risk of heading to bankruptcy court within the next year, according to Retail Dive, using bankruptcy probabilities from CreditRiskMonitor.

Odds of bankruptcy within the next year: As high as 50%

Shopping mall mainstay J.C. Penney is in a tough spot, because it doesn't sell premium items, but it also can't claim the lowest prices.

Penney famously did away with coupons a few years ago and tried an everyday-low-prices strategy, but that bombed —because shoppers were unhappy to lose the coupons.

Now, the department store company is being squeezed by Amazon and other online retailers, and by wildly popular discount chains such as T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Ross and Burlington Coat Factory.

As a luxury retailer whose stores have been a premier destination for upscale shoppers, Neiman Marcus was initially able to fend off the threat from online sellers.


But as shopping habits continue to evolve, even among the well-to-do, Neiman's has been investing in e-commerce and digital technologies— and has been taking on debt in the process.

The Amazon of its day — from its founding in 1892 through the heyday of the shopping mall — Sears used to be a one-stop-shop for millions of Americans.


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