TrafficCourt

While most analysts predict Sears will make it through the holiday season, questions are emerging about how the company will manage next year.

Sears generates 30 percent of its annual revenue in November, December and January, according to its annual report.

With most economists saying the U.S. is in a recession and predicting it won’t get any better until at least next spring, this holiday is a make-or-break season for Sears, said credit analyst Sean Egan.

“If they’re going to make any money, they’re going to make it over the next 40 days,” said Egan, managing director at Egan-Jones Ratings Co., an independent credit rating agency.

“It’s like crossing the desert. They need to have a lot of water stored up to cross the desert.

Link.

That didn’t last long. New reports suggest that Steve & Barry’s, seemingly rescued several months ago by private equity a hedge fund manager, may liquidate.

U.S. casual clothing retailer Steve & Barry’s is set to announce this week it will go out of business, the Wall Street Journal said, citing two people familiar with the situation.

Bay Harbour Management LC, a private equity firm based in New York that acquired 175 of the company’s stores, has hired a liquidation firm to handle the chain’s going-out-of-business sale, the paper said, adding that around 5,000 employees will be let go.

Harold Kahn, who was hired in mid-October to run the revamped chain, is no longer with Steve & Barry’s, the paper said, citing a person familiar with the situation.

Previous entries:

• September 17, 2008, Steve & Barry’s to Keep 173 Stores, Shut 103 Others
• September 4, 2008, Why Did Steve & Barry’s Avoid Data Collection?
• August 14, 2008, Steve & Barry’s Landlords Fight Sale
• August 5, 2008, Steve & Barry’s Sells for $163M
• July 14, 2008, More Retailer News
• July 14, 2008, Playing Serious Catch-Up
• July 8, 2008, The Fate of Steve & Barry’s
• July 1, 2008, Steve & Barry’s May Close Stores
• June 23, 2008, Steve & Barry’s Cash Crunch