Holiday sales in most retail places are doing well. Brick and mortar are still alive. It is the business that did not adapt (SHC, JCP, Macys) and did not give a great customer experience (SHC) or did not invest in the stores (SHC) that are struggling. THese days customers want nice, bright, clean, well maintained stores with great customer service, the same thing they have always wanted. Places like SHC has run down stores, that are dark, dank, moldy, outdated, with little help and horrible customer service (see the Sears forum page or their Facebook page).
As an example of what I mean I will look to fastfood. Look at Chic-fil-A. They sell chicken sandwhiches.
You can be the 40 person in the drive through line and you will be out of there in 5-7 minutes, tops. The store is clean, well lit. The employees are friendly, well mannered and know their job. I don't really like fastfood but if I do eat it I look for a Chic-fil-A for these reasons. Why spend my money on a company who disrespects my business? A business who doesn't care enough about me, the customer, to properly clean, light, maintain and stock a place where I want to give my business (MONEY). Why should I work hard to buy nice things and then go to a store who doesn't have the brains or desire to put me #1 and give good service? Why should I, who has limited time during the day, go to a store who can't invest in updated registers and hire enough cashiers to service the customer? Why should I, who works hard, has kids, go to a store who hassles me about signing up for a credit card I don't want or need? If anyone from the company can explain why I should shop at Sears or Kmart over Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Lowes, Home Depot or Amazon I would be more than willing to give them my business (MONEY) but as I an others have already done we have voted with our business (MONEY) and loyalty and shop elsewhere.
Perfectly put by @QKagsfU-two.