We hate to break the bad news to you, but some of your favorite brands could be just months away from closing down.
Facing tough competition from online shopping, more than 5,000 retail stores from America's biggest brands have closed their doors this year. That has put some popular chains at risk of shutting down entirely.
After the Christmas season, when stores get their disappointing sales numbers back, many more store closures will be announced. Experts say to avoid buying gift cards for these 7 brands:
1. J.C. Penney
The department store chain worried investors by selling off a large part of its women's clothing inventory this year. Combine that with slowly shrinking sales, and it seems like J.C. Penney is circling the drain.
More than 100 J.C. Penney locations closed this summer to help the company compete with Amazon, but that might not be enough.
2. Macy's
Here's another department store giant that seems to be on its last legs. Macy's still has over 700 locations, but the company shuttered 68 stores this year and plans to close another 34 (at least) in the near future. Those locations might be in your neck of the woods, so be careful about making big purchases there.
3. RadioShack
After 96 years in the electronics business, it seems like this chain might not make it to 100. While there were once more than 7,000 RadioShacks across America, there are now just over 600. Increased competition from Amazon and big box stores could make this RadioShack's last Christmas.
4. Kmart
Kmart stores are a division of the Sears corporation, which is seeing tough times itself and has recently closed its stores in Canada. Of the 105 Super Kmart locations that were once spread around the country, there is now just one. The number of regular locations has also shrunk from almost 2,200 to under 1,500.
Sears CEO Eddie Lampert has promised the store's fans that as long as just one Kmart location remains profitable he'll keep it open, but even that isn't reassuring these days. Already, 45 Kmarts are slated to close after the holiday season.
5. Teavana
If you're a fan of this Starbucks-owned mall tea store, you better start stocking up on your favorite flavor. By next spring, most of the company's 379 stores will already be closed. Starbucks says the under-performing brand will still be available online, but all Teavana stores will be closed by the end of 2018.
6. Payless ShoeSource
This company managed to work its way out of bankruptcy this summer, but documents revealed that it has drastically shrunk from 4,400 to just 3,500 stores during that time. Just like every other business, online retailers are eating into the shoe business, and Payless is feeling the crunch harder than most brands.
7. Bed Bath and Beyond
This home goods store outlasted its toughest competition - Linens-N-Things - but wasn't watching out for Amazon or big box stores like Walmart and Target. BB&B's planned expansion into the online shopping world as "One King's Lane" only made things worse.
This company is under siege from all sides, so don't be surprised if they announce a long list of store closures in January.
Do you still shop at these stores? Share this list and let us know!