God knows I hope that they don't go under. I am a single mother of two who does not have the money to even afford walmart clothing. But Steve and Barry's has at least semi good quality. I would be deeply saddened if the only business that had celebrity endorsed things for $10.00 or less had gone out of business.

Steve & Barry's is the real thing! I have four kids that play youth league basketball, words cannot do justice to the look on their faces when each kid received 4 pair of sneakers.

Also they have NBA and college themed uniforms, that look like the genuine stuff. It has really been a boost to their self image.

I hope they can make it!

BLAME BUSH!! I REALLY MEAN IT THIS TIME. BUSH IS THE MAIN REASON OUR ECONOMY IS IN THE SHAPE THAT IS!!

Steve & Barry's really has a smart business plan. If there is one near your home just take a look at the long lines at the registers.

"Jamal said...Steve & Barry's really has a smart business plan. If there is one near your home just take a look at the long lines at the registers."

I'm not picking on this reader but I want to use this comment as an example of how the American consumer consistently gets caught 'flat-footed' in our economic downturns. The consumer only observes long lines at cash registers and on the basis of that alone, mistakenly assumes a particular retailer is "making money" and is doing well.
As the WSJ article points out, that's barely half the story of achieving business success. The other 'half' is really 2/3rds of the whole story: maintain debt at a level that is manageable and 2: control costs including lease costs as well as debt payments.
The American consumer can not "see" the debt carried by any retailer or how poorly negotiated were the mall lease, or see cash flow problems, simply by strolling through the store and looking at how long the register lines are.
When my son was in his teens I began drilling into him that brisk 'sales' activity at a store or displays of fancy cars by his work associates were not signs of economic success unless one also knows that the debt load is reasonable, expenses are under control (be they a firm’s expense or a household's expense), and cash flow is positive.

Couldn't happen to a better company.

Tom B. is a fool. What knowledge do you have of Steve and Barry's? Jealousy is an ugly thing Tommy Boy.

Not only does SB's financial situation benefit from the Mall owners who pay them to put up stall,but Sb also makes sure that MAJOR part of their business is run on the Debts owed to Vendors,who have only trust to guarantee that they will be paid.So as per the current news of their possible bankruptcy we can assume..The Cow(vendors) have been MILKED DRY...pray for the many who they have dragged into their mess.

Steve and Barry's business model includes selling decent quality clothes for prices which do not cover their costs. This is why consumers are happy and lines are long but the company will go bankrupt. It is not the economy, it is poor execution of good/great ideas. The mall payouts are a great piece but other parts of the puzzle are ultimately flawed. Charging $8.88 for a pair of shoes that costs the company $9.00 (factoring in overhead, shipping...) will not work in the long run. So get in line now because they will either go under or have to raise prices.

Only a mindless wonder can blame their finances on Bush. It is that sort of idiocy that keeps the media going. Bush can do nothing without the Democratically controlled house and senate who have yet to do anything since they took control. In fact all of our economic down turns started after the change in control. Blame it on those who legislate our country, not it's current poster boy. Whether McCane or Obama, if the House and Senate get nothing done, nothing will change. Retiail is still strong. Note: Our states and federal departments of taxation make the most money from the fuel prices... not the retailer, refinery or feven the oil company combined.

I'm one of those subcontractors who did the work to open one of their new stores in December and they still have not paid me the $23K they owe me. I hope people realize how many businesses such as myself Steve and Barrys have hurt.

Who gave RR the prices? RR not only are you wrong about their cost, but WAAAAAAAAAAAY off. I worked there over three years. Your way off.

It's very amusing to read these comments from people who really know nothing about the company. I don't know where the WSJ gets its information, but my faith in them is now nonexistent. Lets just say I am an anonymous employee standing up to defend the company I take so much pride in working for. For one, it is a private company, and if things were getting too bad financially then all they would need to do is go public to bail themselves out. Two, have any of you even looked at earnings, especially in comparison to the giants like Wal-mart? There really is no competition, S+B is cleaning house right now! This really is just another case of bad information and a bunch of people who don't have a clue jumping to conclusions. Oh, and LAURA, you might just be one of those sub-contractors that did sub-par work (no pun intended), and then proceeded to inflate your costs and charges. I have opened 2 stores, and can attest that there are several contracts being looked over due to this reason (and if you had a case, then you would take them to court and get your money).

Read the Wall Street Journal tomorrow and all your questions will be answered.

Oh, and by the way. Compared to other companies (if some of this is true), the alleged $30 million they are seeking is truelly chicken feed compared to nearly any other major corporate bankruptcy (which usually are well over 100 million in debt), Macy's for example was somewhere around 300 million.

Cg187, I believe you may know more about this company on some side but I am not less than you about the fact. I'm one of the vendor of this company from China, you are corrected the alleged $30 million they are seeking is truly chicken feed compared to nearly any other major corporate bankruptcy, because of here the overdue payment (from 6 months to 12 months) already more than $10 million by less than 10 vendors, and as I know your company have more than 700 vendors over the world, 90% they are from China!!!! The worse is that your company never response for any payment issue after getting the goods and placed order without single cent deposit or any bank guarantee by the people who talk big about the company like you to cheat the vendors like us. I called it cheat because of the finance problem of your company since last year not only today; however, you guys still keep placing order without settle payment and more worse is that to cancel order after production to avoid payment responsibility. I have no idea how much debt Macy's has, but I didn't see them have the same payment pattern and business conducts as your company,,,, now what your company can only do is to discuss about the solution how to solve the problem with all vendors for the sake to safe the company rather than talk bull shit here and there!!!! Of course we will put your company to the court by your suggestion; however, this is nothing wrong if people give you the credit simply by a trust!!!! A company has staff whose mind like you has no doubt should go bankruptcy, because of they know nothing about the value of trust in the business with shit opinions around!

I guess I will be job hunting pretty soon!~

steve & barry themselves are SELFISH and cowards. they already covered their own behinds, and dont care at all about their employees, whether in the stores, over seas or in corporate. Sh*t trickles down and spreads. let me clear a couple of things up for you:
1- they are afraid to go public, why? because that means the average american can see how poorly they manage their money
2- they are in DEEP debt...only certain vendors are paid each week...which ever one is seeking legal action for unpaid bills. the other urgent bills are paid through credit cards...and theres plenty of debt there too
3- lets just say that not all the money earned is going back to the average employee, hence remaining private...they need to mop up their spills to show a "clean" company
4- ivy league graduates do NOT make the best employees for corporate...so decrease the recruiting department and work on employee morale! its in the negative numbers! stop hiring 100+ people without knowing where you're going to place them..only to fire 100+ the WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS...but what do YOU care? you're jewish, your holidays ended.

Oh and CG187 - clearly you've been brainwashed by their "pep talks" of denial and encouragement to work for practically nothing and put all your efforts in making s&b the most cost effective comapny ever, am i right? did they also promise you "great results" in the long run? that you'll be rewarded? clearly with the way the economy is going...they are D-E-L-U-S-I-O-N-A-L. run the other way and get out before they miss a direct deposit into your bank account!

I am also a vendor owed more than $6,000 since January. I hope this situation gets rectified but it seems that S&B owes many companies even more money than us. They didn't pay us, now they placed a new order. We got a deposit but we are now refusing to deliver until the balance is paid.

Yes, i agree S&B has put a hurting on alot of contractors I know they are in debt to me for a couple of million.