[2] Other acquisitions came in the areas of retail furniture, consumer credit, modular housing, and commercial construction.
In 1978, Wickes bought the Builders Emporium chain of retail home improvement stores.
[1] In August 1980, Wickes acquired Gamble-Skogmo Inc., a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based retail conglomerate, for more than $200 million.
With $1.6 billion in debt at stake, it was at the time largest Chapter 11 reorganization since the passage of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978.
[4] Sanford C. Sigoloff, a specialist in guiding and restructuring companies in bankruptcy proceedings, was brought in as CEO.
[12] Amid liquidity issues and questions about its accounting practices, Collins & Aikman filed for bankruptcy in 2005.