Retail consolidation and more consumers in trouble

Linens N' Things is due to close all remaining stores and liquidate under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Seemingly this will strengthen others servicing the same consumers in the mid to long term due to less competition. In the short term the liquidation process of discounting comparable merchandise should divert some business from their healthy brethren.

Another side effect of this is that they employ many people (15,000 employees according to this article). With other business on restricted temporary holiday staffing, they may not be able to collect much more than an unemployment check. This will not allow them to service debt in the worst case, add on debt in most cases, nor practice discretionary spending. This will impact unemployment and lower consumer spending.

Their headquarters was in New Jersey and they seemed to provide a decent counter-balance to Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Since retail is due to hurt in the foreseeable future, I wouldn't personally expect BB&B to discontinue their coupon promotional activities. Don't use my word on this since I did not contact BB&B to ask this question.