15 companies that may not survive 2009

What do you think of these predictions?

I would be very disappointed to see Claire's close. It is an affordable place for feminine accessories. I not only buy my daughters things from Claire's but also for myself.

Krispy Creme is my favorite makers of donuts. I would really hate to see them close.

Some of the others are staggering but not necessarily a real surprise. I can see how Blockbuster is struggling with the competition of companies like Netflix, on demand ordering with cable and satellite companies and viewing movies online.

 

 

 

I wasn't surprised to see Rite Aid on that list either. They took over Eckerd Drug stores a couple of years ago and have been competing with too many other stores just like them.

 Most of them won't affect me one way or another. I wonder how many closings are (or will be?) due to the economy or to natural evolution of businesses. Not all businesses survive in any environment. 

Toni B.:

I wasn't surprised to see Rite Aid on that list either

They have heavy competition as well. Where I am, Rite Aid tends to be older stores. Why shop there when we can pull up into Walgreens in a better area with a well lit parking lot and a well lit store that looks cleaner?

 

Most of the companies on the list I'm either not familar with or we don't have in the area.

I'm not surprised about Krispy Kreme.  They do have good donuts, but they definitely over-extended themselves.  We used to look forward to having them as a treat when we went to Milwaukee to visit.  The in-laws stopped considering them a treat because they were delivering to several of the local stores, gas stations, etc - they were everywhere!  We were excited when the opened a Krispy Kreme nearby, but then again they over-saturated the market with their donuts and then it was no longer a "treat" for us either - not when you could pick them up anytime/anywhere.  Just a couple years later they closed the local store.

 

Pat:

I wonder how many closings are (or will be?) due to the economy or to natural evolution of businesses.

I think some probably have been struggling with competition and are suffering from that.

 

 

I'm not surprised about Blockbuster - the only thing that made them better than netflix was the option for in-store exchange.  But when redbox movie stations started popping up here and charging a dollar for new releases, Hollywood video closed and Blockbuster won't be far behind because their new releases section contains movies that are years old, but they still charge new release prices.

 Krispy Kreme did the same thing here.  It was awesome when they built a store here and it used to be a real treat for DH and DS but no you can pick them up anywhere, including walmart.

jeweledsunshine:

But when redbox movie stations started popping up here and charging a dollar for new releases

I saw one of those when visiting my Mother. Does that actually work well?

You may be able to pick Krispy Kreme up anywhere but those won't be really fresh and certainly are not warm. The area we now live in does not have a bakery so we have to accept purchases from the gas station,

cmouse01:

We were excited when the opened a Krispy Kreme nearby, but then again they over-saturated the market with their donuts and then it was no longer a "treat" for us either - not when you could pick them up anytime/anywhere.  Just a couple years later they closed the local store.

I think you may have hit on something here and it can apply to a lot of things we've gotten used to buying. Things that were once optional that are now removed from our budgets either because of stores closing or not purchasing them to save money.