Most people believe that in order to achieve success, it is important to study the works of successful people and successful organizations. While this notion holds true to a good extent, it is also important and insightful to take a look at failures. Indeed, by studying and understanding what causes failure, one can gain more awareness. In fact, in order to achieve long-term success, one must never ignore the aspects that can lead to failure. Many businesses, too, start off well but often go awry somewhere along the way. This happens across businesses in every industry and the reasons for businesses failing must always be studied. In this article, we will take a look at the top ten reasons why retail businesses fail. Whether you’re planning to start off a retail venture, or you have already established your retail store, it is important for you to consider the probable causes of retail businesses failing. Doing so will offer you a good amount of insight and may prevent your business from collapsing.Here are the top ten reasons why retail businesses fail:
1.
Lack of proper capital
As with all types of businesses, retail businesses require a good amount of capital, both to start off the venture, as well as to sustain operations. Even after starting up, many retail businesses soon reach a stage where they require additional funds to continue operating. Business owners must always ensure that they have proper access to capital and must look to secure financing well before the business needs it. Securing capital well in time can be the determining factor between a successful venture and insolvency.2.
Disasters
Disasters, either manmade or natural, can be the death blow to a retail business. While it is often difficult to anticipate and escape disasters, retail business owners must ensure that they have a plan to combat an emergency scenario. Furthermore, business owners must ensure that they have proper and adequate insurance policies in place for such situations.3.
Underestimating costs of overheads
While a large number of business owners pay close attention to all details of their business, the cost of overheads is often overlooked. Overheads include the fixed and running costs that are required for the day to day operation of a business. If these costs are not calculated accurately, retail business owners may find themselves paying out of their pockets to sustain daily operations. It is necessary for retail business owners to always account for overhead expenses and keep centralized funds for paying these costs. It is also a wise idea to keep a buffer on the estimation in order to cover variable and miscellaneous costs, which may not occur every day.4.
Negligence
Negligence is one of the biggest reasons retail ventures fail. Often, entrepreneurs are the ones who start off a retail venture. However, entrepreneurs, being visionaries, relish challenges and once the challenge of setting up a venture passes, their interest begins to wane. A retail business needs a good amount of involvement and clear directions set by its leaders in order to be successful. Leaders will need to keep their interest in their retail ventures and maintain performance at all times.5.
Poor sales figures
Businesses make money by conducting sales and without sales, no business can survive. Sales are linked to many factors, including economic trends and market awareness and company management must always look to increase sales figures in order for the business to grow. While it is not entirely possible to guarantee that a business makes sales, retail business owners must look to carefully study market trends and customer preferences. By studying the market and by bringing about necessary adjustments in strategy, a retail business can be responsive, and this can help increase sales figures.6.
Overexpansion
Many retail businesses start off well and soon plan to expand in order for the business to flourish. While expansion certainly needs to be done, it must be done in moderation. Expanding too much, or too rapidly can lead to a variety of problems which a retail business may not be ready to face. Before attempting to expand and capture a bigger share of the market, business owners must ensure that they are adequately prepared to meet logistic challenges, financing concerns, staffing issues, and supply chain management. Expanding without preparation can make retail businesses battle out for survival.7.
Problems with the management or leadership
Of the many reasons why retail businesses fail, problems with leadership or management are one reason, which is completely the business owner’s responsibility. While a retail business may have been started off by an entrepreneur, it is important to effectively manage the day to day issues. Lack of proper experience and incompetence of management is one of the prime reasons why retail businesses fail. Business owners must ensure that they spot and effectively address any management problems before they go out of hand.
8.
Economic conditions
Economic factors are often out of the hands of business owners. Every once in a while, there will be an economic downturn and business owners cannot avoid such a scenario. However, those retailers, who keep themselves prepared financially for such a downturn, will find themselves managing through the tough times. Changing economic conditions is never in the hands of a business owner. However, training and planning to meet fluctuating economic conditions can prove to be the decisive factor to a retail business succeeding or failing.9.
Fraud
Unfortunately, fraud is something which exists in every industry 
and may be committed by anyone, including partners, vendors, customers or even employees. While it is not entirely possible toescape fraud altogether, retail businesses must ensure due diligence and must keep themselves prepared for such scenarios. It is also a good idea to have insurance policies in place to cover any fraud. Doing so can allow business owners to address and combat such scenarios effectively.