Starting a business is always a risk, but not all sectors are created equal. Take one glance at recent retail sales figures or analyst reports, for example, and you’ll see plenty of fire, brimstone and collapses.
Just this week research firm IBISWorld blamed fierce competition and the emergence of online players for the collapse of local brands including Pumpkin Patch, Payless Shoes and Marcs and David Lawrence, saying shoppers now have too much choice for even formerly strong operations to survive.
