US stores to ramp up closings, job cuts in early '09

By Karen Jacobs

ATLANTA, Dec 23 (Reuters) - U.S. retailers can be expected to speed up a wave of store closures, restructurings and job cuts in the coming weeks, hoping to get a fresh start in early 2009 after more than a year of recession.

Many store chains have waited for the holiday shopping season to end before taking more aggressive steps, but will aim for more cost cutting by the close of their retail fiscal year in early January and throughout calendar 2009, economists and consultants said. "We are going to see some shakeout in the retail industry and I think it's going to happen pretty quickly after the holidays," said Frank Badillo, senior economist with consultant TNS Retail Forward. "We'll see it in the form of store closings, mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcy."

The holiday shopping season, which largely occurs in the weeks between U.S. Thanksgiving and Christmas, is a crucial sales period for most retailers. This year the recession, job losses and a credit crunch are expected to yield the worst holiday sales in up to four decades.

Already, Circuit City Stores (CCTYQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) is liquidating one-fifth of its U.S. stores as it reorganizes in bankruptcy. Many other retailers have also announced closures.

Office Depot (ODP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) plans to shutter 112 stores in North America in the next three months. Department store operators Sears Holdings (SHLD.O: Quote, Profile, Research) and Dillard's (DDS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) have closed stores, and Williams-Sonoma (WSM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Select Comfort (SCSS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) have signaled their intent to shutter underperformers in 2009.

Craig Rowley, retail practice leader at human resources consulting firm Hay Group, is expecting more store closure announcements before retail fiscal years end early next year. He said retailers will likely shed seasonal help and could also cut excess jobs at corporate headquarters.

"Retailers had such a difficult year and their stock prices are so low, every one is looking to take every expense they can in this fiscal year," Rowley said.