US retailers face growing hostility from suppliers

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In the week that Alibaba’s Jack Ma warned that “in the next 30 years, the world will see much more pain than happiness”, due to disruption caused by technology, comes an article on struggling bricks-and-mortar retailers and their often unpaid suppliers. The latest company to attract the wrath of its suppliers is Payless, the US shoe company. Chinese shoe manufacturers have been calling for their cash and considering blocking shipments. Sears too has warned it may not be able to survive. All suppliers to this market should watch closely – unsecured vendors will be last in line for a payout in the event of bankruptcy.