While not boating related, it is still viable considering the thread topic.
I got this email today, regarding the use of gift certificates for retail chains, and many of them are shutting or downsizing. Therefore I felt this would be a valid post for this thread.
I don't know the original date of this email, as I believe I got a similar email about this time last year and it appears many companies listed here, have closed or downsized some time ago. In addition to Levitz on this list, Seaman's Furniture recently shut down, Hollywood and Blockbuster video have downsized drastically, DHL, has recently said they would cease domestic service in the US, and even today, Citi Group announced they were cutting 53,000 more jobs in addition to the 20,000 already cut. Some major trucking companies have also shut their doors and my company is even looking to intigrate 2 of it's subsidiaries into one, as well.
Be wary of gift certificates this Christmas. Just in case you already have them, use the Gift Certificates immediately or you may lose them! Levitz, and Bombay have already shut down.
STORE CLOSINGS AND LAYOFFS
Ann Taylor closing 117 stores nationwide. A company spokeswoman said the
company hasn't revealed which stores will be shuttered. It will let the
stores that will close this fiscal year know over the next month
Eddie Bauer to close more stores. Eddie Bauer has already closed 27
shops in the first quarter and plans to close up to two more outlet
stores by the end of the year.
Cache closing stores. Women's retailer Cache announced that it is
closing 20 to 23 stores this year.
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherines closing 150 stores nationwide.
The owner of retailers Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug , Catherine's Plus
Sizes will close about 150 under performing stores this year. The
company hasn't provided a list of specific store closures and can't say
when it will offer that info, spokeswoman Brooke Perry said today.
Talbots, J. Jill closing stores. About a month ago, Talbot's
announced that it will be shuttering all 78 of its kids and men's
stores. Now the company says it will close another 22 under performing
stores.. The 22 stores will be a mix of Talbot's women's and J. Jill ,
another chain it owns. The closures will occur this fiscal year,
according to a company press release.
Gap Inc. closing 85 stores. In addition to its namesake chain, Gap
also owns Old Navy and Banana Republic . The company said the closures -
all planned for fiscal 2008 - will be weighted toward the Gap brand.
Foot Locker to close 140 stores. In the company press release and
during its conference call with analysts today, it did not specify where
the future store closures - all planned in fiscal 2008 - will be. The
company could not be immediately reached for comment
Wickes is going out of business. Wickes Furniture is going out of
business and closing all of its stores, Wickes, a 37-year-old retailer
that targets middle-income customers, filed for bankruptcy protection
last month.
Zales, Piercing Pagoda closing stores. The owner of Zales and
Piercing Pagoda previously said it plans to close 82 stores by July 31.
Today, it announced that it is closing another 23 under performing
stores. The company said it's not providing a list of specific store
closures. Of the 105 locations planned for closure, 50 are kiosks and 55
are stores.
Disney Store, exact number of stores acquired will depend on negotiations with landlords.
Those subsidiaries of Children's Place filed for bankruptcy
protection in late March.
Home Depot, Nearly 7+ months after its chief executive said
there were no plans to cut the number of its core retail stores, The
Home Depot Inc. announced Thursday that it is shuttering 15 of them amid
a slumping U.S. economy and housing market. The move will affect 1,300
employees. It is the first time the world's largest home improvement
store chain has ever closed a flagship store for performance reasons.
Its shares rose almost 5 percent. The Atlanta-based company said the
under performing U.S. stores being closed represents less than 1 percent
of its existing stores. They will be shuttered within the next two
months.
CompUSA (CLOSED) clarifies details on store closings. Any extended
warranties purchased for products through CompUSA will be honored by a
third-party provider, Assurant Solutions. Gift cards, rain checks, and
rebates purchased prior to December 12 can be redeemed at any time
during the final sale. For those who have a gadget currently in for
service with CompUSA, the repair will be completed and the gadget will
be returned to owners.
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9834177-7html
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9834177-7.html
Circuit City - Up to 150 stores to be closed nationwide.
Macy's - 9 stores, so far
Movie Gallery - 160 stores as part of reorganization plan to exit
bankruptcy. The video rental company plans to close 400 of 3,500
Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video stores in addition to the 520
locations the video rental chain closed last fall.
Pep Boys - 33 stores
Sprint Nextel - 125 retail locations. New Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse
appears to have inherited a company bleeding subscribers by the
thousands, and will now officially be dropping the ax on 4,000 employees
and 125 retail locations. Amid the loss of 639,000 postpaid customers in
the fourth quarter, Sprint will be cutting a total of 6.7% of its work
force (following the 5,000 layoffs last year) and 8% of company-owned
brick-and-mortar stores, while remaining mute on other rumors that it
will consolidate its headquarters in Kansas . Sprint Nextel shares are
down $2.89, or nearly 25%, at the time of this writing.
J. C. Penney, Lowe's and Office Depot have all annouced that they scaling back."
Ethan Allen Interiors: The company announced plans to close
12 of 300+ stores in an effort to cut costs.
Wilsons the Leather Experts - 158 stores
Pacific Sunwear will close its 154 Demo stores after a review of
strategic alternatives for the urban-apparel brand. Seventy-four under
performing Demo stores closed last May.
Sharper Image: The company recently filed for bankruptcy protection and
announced that 90 of its 184 stores are closing. The retailer will still
operate 94 stores to pay off debts, but 90 of these stores have
performed poorly and also may close..
KB Toys posted a list of 356 stores that it is closing around the United
States as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. To see the list of
store closings, go to the KB Toys Information web site, and click on
Press Information
Dillard's to Close More Stores. Dillard's Inc. said it will continue
to focus on closing under performing stores, reducing expenses and
improving its merchandise in 2008. At the company's annual shareholder
meeting, CEO William Dillard II said the company will close another six
under performing stores this year.
NOTE: It appears that American Express is underwriting many of the malls' own gift certificates -- you purchase at any mall's main office and then use them just as you would a credit card, at any of the stores in that mall. Additionally, they will replace, if misplaced, as long as you have recorded the certificate number safely somewhere else..