Identifying a failing business?
September 11, 2013 1:27 PM Subscribe
How would I go about finding a failing business/company in real life for a homework assignment? Bonus points if it is in the area of fashion or crafting. It cannot be in the air travel or auto industries. I have done a lot of looking online, but don't know where to look to identify said businesses.
Thanks MeFites!
My local paper has a retail blog (separate from its business blog, which is nothing more than reprinted press releases) that talks about openings, expansions, moves, closings, etc. Maybe your local paper has something similar.
posted by headnsouth at 1:35 PM on September 11, 2013
posted by headnsouth at 1:35 PM on September 11, 2013
I used to do this for my job before the internet. I read local newspapers' business sections for articles and many had listings for recent bankruptcy filings. I am guessing you could find the same things online now (we had hundreds of paper subscriptions for this purpose only!)
posted by maxg94 at 1:35 PM on September 11, 2013
posted by maxg94 at 1:35 PM on September 11, 2013
Response by poster: I was thinking of something more on a national level. Sorry.
posted by michellenoel at 1:36 PM on September 11, 2013
posted by michellenoel at 1:36 PM on September 11, 2013
Restaurants fail all the time. How long do you have for this project? Because if you have some time it's pretty easy to find a restaurant that isn't doing too well.
Since you're looking for national stuff, there are a bunch of companies that aren't doing that well. but part of it is how you're defining failing. Does it have to be something that is definitely going out of business or are things that aren't doing as well as investors want/they once were good to go?
If the later then Blockbuster still has stores open. Many department stores are suffering because of Amazon. Magazines and print media in general, you can certainly fine tune what you're looking at.
posted by theichibun at 1:40 PM on September 11, 2013
Since you're looking for national stuff, there are a bunch of companies that aren't doing that well. but part of it is how you're defining failing. Does it have to be something that is definitely going out of business or are things that aren't doing as well as investors want/they once were good to go?
If the later then Blockbuster still has stores open. Many department stores are suffering because of Amazon. Magazines and print media in general, you can certainly fine tune what you're looking at.
posted by theichibun at 1:40 PM on September 11, 2013
Response by poster: I have several weeks. The company must have been in the red for the last year.
posted by michellenoel at 1:42 PM on September 11, 2013
posted by michellenoel at 1:42 PM on September 11, 2013
Best answer: Blockbuster
Best Buy
Bank of America (just fell off of the Dow Jones Industrial Average)
Alcoa (ditto)
Any City Newspaper
Groupon
Sprint/Nextel
Barnes and Noble
Zynga
Those are worth exploring
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:43 PM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best Buy
Bank of America (just fell off of the Dow Jones Industrial Average)
Alcoa (ditto)
Any City Newspaper
Groupon
Sprint/Nextel
Barnes and Noble
Zynga
Those are worth exploring
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:43 PM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best answer: If you're looking for companies in trouble, think of businesses in bankruptcy. As with people, bankruptcy is just something that happens and does not necessarily mean the end--just a chance at a new start (probably owned by someone else--the former creditors--and with a lot of their old liabilities wiped out (sorry employees and suppliers!)).
In any event, look to Kurtzman Carson, which is a firm specializing in bankruptcies. Here is their page of the most recent bankruptcy filings they're tracking. You don't have to delve into the filings--just look for names of companies that interest you and start researching whatever you need for your project. Syms (clother retailer) is on there. You may recognize other names.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:43 PM on September 11, 2013
In any event, look to Kurtzman Carson, which is a firm specializing in bankruptcies. Here is their page of the most recent bankruptcy filings they're tracking. You don't have to delve into the filings--just look for names of companies that interest you and start researching whatever you need for your project. Syms (clother retailer) is on there. You may recognize other names.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:43 PM on September 11, 2013
Barnes and Noble -- and their ill-fated Nook -- would be an interesting case study.
posted by Ostara at 1:43 PM on September 11, 2013
posted by Ostara at 1:43 PM on September 11, 2013
Bank of America is in no way a failing company. That it was removed from the DJIA is irrelevant.
JC Penney is a failing fashion-related company.
posted by dfriedman at 1:45 PM on September 11, 2013
JC Penney is a failing fashion-related company.
posted by dfriedman at 1:45 PM on September 11, 2013
Liz Claiborne is a brand I used to love, now you can't find it anywhere!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:45 PM on September 11, 2013
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:45 PM on September 11, 2013
There was just recently a Mefi post about the decline of Lisa Frank that might be worth looking into...
posted by stenseng at 1:47 PM on September 11, 2013
posted by stenseng at 1:47 PM on September 11, 2013
Ostara: Barnes and Noble -- and their ill-fated Nook -- would be an interesting case study.
Barnes & Noble not giving up on Nook tablets after all. Nook design wasn't the problem—it was management, says new CEO. (August 20, 2013) The Ars Technica article has more details, but I wanted to counter the notion that the Nook was dead, and was dragging B&N down with it.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:51 PM on September 11, 2013
Barnes & Noble not giving up on Nook tablets after all. Nook design wasn't the problem—it was management, says new CEO. (August 20, 2013) The Ars Technica article has more details, but I wanted to counter the notion that the Nook was dead, and was dragging B&N down with it.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:51 PM on September 11, 2013
I'd also go with JC Penney. You can Google for phrases like "consecutive quarter of losses" or "year end losses" or find companies with a negative earnings per share (you can use Yahoo's stock screener to find this).
posted by melissasaurus at 1:53 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by melissasaurus at 1:53 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Great answers! Thank you everyone.
posted by michellenoel at 1:55 PM on September 11, 2013
posted by michellenoel at 1:55 PM on September 11, 2013
Visit Motley Fool (www. fool.com) Yahoo! has a business and investment section.
Go get a copy of the Wall Street Journal and read it. Business news. There are a ton of magazines. Inc, Forbes, Business Week. You may find leads, analysis, larger issue articles (like declining INDUSTRIES your failing companies are in), etc.
High school or college homework?
posted by FauxScot at 2:09 PM on September 11, 2013
Go get a copy of the Wall Street Journal and read it. Business news. There are a ton of magazines. Inc, Forbes, Business Week. You may find leads, analysis, larger issue articles (like declining INDUSTRIES your failing companies are in), etc.
High school or college homework?
posted by FauxScot at 2:09 PM on September 11, 2013
Blackberry (formerly RIM) seems to be failing as hard as anyone.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:51 PM on September 11, 2013
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:51 PM on September 11, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by biffa at 1:29 PM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]