Fourth quarter of 2019 is a make it or break it time for many retailers.
This has been a record year for store closures. Credit Suisse recently said 7,600 stores have shut their doors — the highest in the index’s 24-year history. Additionally, 28 retailers are teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, with apparel retailers being especially vulnerable.
The stakes are high, especially with fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas making for a shorter shopping season, even though studies show that consumers started preparing for holiday gift-giving as early as July. That means retailers are focusing on ways to leverage promotions and go after market share.
