In the past year “how do I close my retail store”, “best way to close a retail store”, “retail crisis turnaround” and “retail crisis management” have become popular search phrases on the Internet. Business owners in increasing numbers are having going out of business sales.  Not since the 1980s has our country struggled so hard against dire economic forecasts and rising unemployment.  New retail businesses as well established retail stores are both closing their doors at a rate not seen since 1983.  With unemployment topping 10% (USA Today), Americans are spending less on non-essential items and making do with last year’s purchases.  A growing number retail businesses are seeking assistance using the skills of a retail crisis manager, in closing their stores profitably.  Many will seek the specialized services of a liquidation consultant before they have a going out of business sale.

While small and midsize retail establishments struggling the past eighteen months, now some of the major brands and design giants are seeking retail crisis managers to stay in business or close their doors.  The struggling apparel retailers include GAP, Eddie Bauer, Timberland, Ann Taylor and Pacific Sunwear (Forbes).  Unfortunately for shoppers Eddie Bauer is on the “critical list”, while Timberland, Ann Taylor, GAP and Pacific Sunwear are closing stores in an effort to stay in business. Another casualty Charming Shoppes (owner of Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherines) is set to close another 100 stores.

A  leader in the field of retail crisis solutions (ranked #1 by Google and MSN), The Waldoff Group has been serving the retail community with its expertise for nearly 2 decades.  CEO Milton Waldoff currently based in Hattiesburg, MS has a long family history owning and operating retail business throughout Mississippi.  He brings a unique business perspective to retail crisis situations having experience both highly acclaimed success and, himself,  being a retail casualty of the 1980s economic downturn.

Before I became (what it is I became as an adult) which could be a jack of many trades, and master of none, I was in the retail business. Though I only owned a small retail store with a floor space of under 2000 square feet, when giant stores began moving into my small town such as Wal-mart etc. I didn’t quite understand how my loyal friends could ever leave me to starve.  I was very young at the time.  For goodness sakes, I couldn’t even afford my own health foods and vitamins at cost; how in the world could I expect them to buy them at a 50% markup; no matter what their affection for me was.  I eventually closed the store, but not before trying everything possible.  I did not have access to the Internet then. It was 1977, and though it had been invented by then, it was called Arapnet and was not available to the public, only a communications device between the White House and Pentagon.  I had not heard of it nor had I heard of companies such as Waldoff’s called “Retail Crisis Turnaround Managers”, but I certainly wish I had.  It would have saved me many countless nights of being awake, headaches, unanswered phone calls (generally creditors) and reading book after book of “how to get out of this mess”.

They take a personal approach to each owner’s specific needs. Their clients vary from businesses needing to find a retail turnaround solution to those needing to close their retail stores. Their Group believes “Good management means knowing when to call for help”.  As a retail consultant He contributes his expertise and years of experience as a very successful merchant and businessman, in assisting store management in recognizing problems and the successful implementation of solutions.  Turnaround and crisis management has become a specialty of The Waldoff Group. Through his personal experience, guidance and leadership he continues to assist troubled companies in returning to profitability.  Of course there are many other retail crisis turnaround managers other than Mr. Waldoff. We chose him as an example since he is ranked number one by the two major search engines and the testimonials on his site certainly reflect why with a plethora of happy clients.

Business owners should be aware there is a wave of newly minted retail crisis managers promoting themselves online.  According to the management library “Crisis management is a relatively new field of management. Typically, proactive crisis management activities include forecasting potential crises and planning how to deal with them.”  Finding a retail crisis manager with experience and a track record of results will become more difficult as the recession deepens.  Store owners will need to carefully check the experience and testimonials of perspective retail crisis managers.  Acting before the crisis worsens, more often than not, will mean the difference between liquidation and closing ones store profitably.

Rick London si a writer and cartoonist and founder of Londons Times Cartoons, the #1 Google ranked offbeat cartoon on the net and many licensed cartoon gift gift shops with over 100,000 items such as tees, mugs, etc. He is also co-founder with his fiance’ Lee Hiller in
the full service web designfirm Pen and Ink Inc which also uses only White Hat/Organic marketing services.

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