https://www.wsj.com/articles/inside-the-decline-of-sears-the-amazon-of-the-20th-century-1509472095
Shoppers hunting for this holiday season's hot toy, the L.O.L. Surprise, may have trouble finding it at Sears or Kmart stores. Worried about the financial health of the retail chains, the company that makes the toy, a ball that children unwrap to reveal small dolls, has reduced shipments to Sears Holdings Corp.
"We cut their credit line and shortened payment terms," said Isaac Larian, chief executive of toy maker MGA Entertainment Inc. "If they pay one day late, we will cut them off."
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To guarantee shipments from LG Electronics Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., Sears is paying them cash up front for some goods, said people familiar with the matter. Levi Strauss & Co. has stopped supplying women's jeans to the chain, said another person. At Clorox Co., "We have certainly adjusted our payment terms," said CEO Benno Dorer.
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A Sears spokesman said the company has taken a number of steps "to remain a viable competitor," including closing unprofitable stores, negotiating "with vendors to reduce their risk in doing business with us," investing in its customer-loyalty program and reducing costs.