JCPenney files Chapter 11, joins growing list of battered retailers
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PLANO, Texas - JCPenney has joined an ever-growing list of wounded retailers - filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week.
 
The retailer will close 200 stores this year and an additional 50 stores next year. It's unclear how many of its 85,000 employees will lose their jobs. Other retailers have also filed this month, including J.Crew and Neiman Marcus.
 
The filing isn't a surprise, as the company's troubles have mounted in recent years with decreasing sales and missed debt payments. The pandemic has only made things worse, as 95 percent of its retail stores are still closed around the country.
 
“The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for our families, our loved ones, our communities and our country. As a result, the American retail industry has experienced a profoundly different new reality, requiring JCPenney to make difficult decisions in running our business to protect the safety of our associates and customers and the future of our company,” said Jill Soltau, CEO of JCPenney in the filing.
 
A major restructuring effort to eliminate "several billion dollars" of debt is underway. Leadership has indicated that a sale of the company is possible.
 
JCPenney stopped selling furniture in store in February 2019 in an effort to optimize store layouts. The retailer sold all sorts of home furniture, ranging from bedroom and home office furniture to mattresses. 
 
In early March, Midwestern furniture retail giant Art Van Furniture went bankrupt and closed all store locations over 60 days. Art Van was one of the biggest furniture retailers in the Midwest, operating 141 stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri, as well as a full service e-commerce website, with an additional 45 freestanding Art Van PureSleep bedding stores. More than 3,100 workers were laid off.
 
In February, fellow furniture retailer Pier 1 Imports also filed for bankruptcy. The company said it would close 450 locations, including all stores in Canada and two distribution centers. Online retailer Wayfair has also suffered heavy losses as of late, reporting a near billion dollar loss for 2019.
 
What is causing the retail pain? Amazon? Changing shopping habits? Are they having a harder time reaching a younger audience?
 
Let us know in the comments.

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Robert Dalheim

Robert Dalheim is an editor at the Woodworking Network. Along with publishing online news articles, he writes feature stories for the FDMC print publication. He can be reached at [email protected].