VOA常速英语:Filing for Bankruptcy Protection Could Save Some Retailers Struggling Before Pandemic

Lord and Taylor recently joined a long list of US retailers hit hard by stay-at-home orders
Lord ＆ Taylor 最近加入了一长串申请破产保护的美国零售商的名单，由于疫情制定的居家隔离的政策，
spawned by the coronavirus pandemic.
这些零售商受到了的沉重打击。
Launched in 1824 the department store found in dozens of American shopping malls
始建于1824年，在数十家美国购物中心找到这家百货公司
recently filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection.
最近申请了破产保护。
It arguably was the straw that broke the camels back,
可以说是稻草折断了骆驼的背，
another way to look at this is the pandemic and the associated economic recession
从另外一方面看是疫情和相关的经济衰退
accelerated what was already occurring in the industry we had several retail bankruptcies before the pandemic,
加速了这个行业已经发生的事情，在疫情之前，我们已经有过几次零售破产，
and others were teetering on the edge but were trying to forestall bankruptcy.
其他零售商则摇摇欲坠，但我们正试图阻止其破产。
Months of shutdown in response to the pandemic
几个月来为应对疫情而关闭
caused merchandise sales from bricks and mortar stores to fall precipitously,
导致实体店的商品销售急剧下降，
but Brian Marx says this could present an opportunity for these large operations to transform.
但布赖恩·马克思说，这可能为这些大型商家带来一个转变的机会。
If we look at the major ones of Jcpenney, J Crew Neiman Marcus, Brooks Brothers and Lord and Taylor,
如果我们看看JCPenney， J Crew， Neiman Marcus Brooks Brothers和Lord＆Taylor 这些主要的商家，
these are all very strategic moves for this industry to right size and transform its cost structure.
这些都是该行业调整规模和改变成本结构的非常重要的战略举措。
All these operations had significant debt and significant lease liability on the real estate side except for Lord and Taylor.
除Lord＆Taylor 外，所有这些业务在房地产方面都有大量债务和重大租赁责任。
Mary Epner co-founder of reagent NYC a retail analysis group says
玛丽·埃普纳是纽约试剂零售分析集团的联合创始人
Chapter 11 is not a death sentence to the contrary.
她说申请破产保护不是死刑判决。
Its a tool to reorganize restructure debt and embark on a new business strategy.
相反的它是一个工具，以重组债务，并开始一个新的商业战略。
And you can evaluate your management, your supply chain, your vendor mix, your leases
你可以评估你的管理，你的供应链，你的供应商，你的租约
and the leases become an important topic here.
租赁成为这里的一个重要话题。
With numerous locations stores need revenue to pay their rent in order to stick to their lease contracts,
很多地方的商店都需要收入来支付租金，这样才能遵守租赁合同，
that became hard with the prolonged public health crisis.
随着长期的公共卫生危机，情况变得艰难起来。
Lord and Taylor maybe 45 locations, JCrew close to 500 locations, JCPenney over 800 locations.
Lord＆Taylor 也许45个商铺， JCrew 有接近500个，JCPenney 有800多个地点。
They enter into leases for real estate to provide their bricks and mortar operations.
他们签订了房地产租约进行实体业务。
JCPenney is another iconic department store chain that also filed for bankruptcy.
JCPenney是另一家标志性的百货公司，也申请破产。
The store that started over a hundred years ago had nearly 85,000 employees before a reorganization
这家在一百多年前开业的商店在重组前拥有近85000名员工。
that will see it close about a third of its nearly 850 stores nationwide.
这将使其在全国近850家门店中关闭约三分之一。
And whats going to happen I just did a quick count of how many stores JCPenney is planning to close.
接下来会发生什么，我只是简单地计算了一下JCPenney打算关闭多少家商店。
I believe its something like almost 160 stores,
我相信大概有160家商店，
and 160 stores they probably have anywhere from 150 to 200 people per store.
还有160家商店，每家店大概有150到200人。
Its a pretty staggering amount.
相当惊人的数目。
Closing mall based department stores affects every business that shares the mall space.
关闭以商场为基础的百货公司会影响每一家共享商场空间的企业。
And it causes a ripple effect throughout the mall because in so far as customers are still shopping JCPenney.
它还会在整个商场引起连锁反应，因为消费者还在JCPenney购买东西。
Theyre coming there and then theyre possibly going to a GAP, a victorias secret, a Body Works or whatever,
他们要到那里去，然后他们可能会去GAP，维多利亚的秘密或者Body Works，或者其他地方
so it really hurts and think about it if you have a JCPenny and a Lord and Taylor in a mall
所以如果在商场里有JCPenny和Lord＆Taylor 的话，这真的很麻烦。
and theyre both closing, it can be pretty shocking and devastating.
他们都要关门了，这可能是非常令人震惊和毁灭性的。
Both Epner and Marks say not all employees will lose their jobs
Epner和Marks都说，并不是所有的员工都会丢掉工作。
but there may be a transformation with not so much direct customer service in the store
但是可能会有一个转变，商店里没有那么多直接的客户服务。
but more online or in a warehouse for distribution purposes.
但更多的是网上或仓库的分销目的。
VOA news Washington
VOA华盛顿报道