One must remember that Rutherford fully envisioned Watch Tower as a monetary opportunity. Early letters showed that it was always money-driven. There was money to be made in the five-and-dime era.
Things changed significantly for sales-driven religions with the Jimmy Swaggart decision.
Sales would slowly reduce. Tithe-based religions have fared better - i.e. Mormons and Scientology.
Canadian department stores have run a similar course to Watch Tower.
For decades, Canada had three major chains, lowend Sears (the newest), highend Hudson's Bay (the oldest), and middle Eatons.
There were smaller chains - Woolco, Woolworths, and Zellers.
Walmart's foray into Canada in 1994 was accompanied by the purchase of Woolco. (Woolco had made a major strategic error when the GST was introduced. Woolco included the GST in their advertised and rack price, while all other retailers added GST at checkout. So, Woolco's prices were perceived to be higher.)
Even without Walmart, Eaton's could not maintain the challenging middle position. But Walmart was the nail in Eaton's coffin, and it went bankrupt in 1999.
Target tried Canada in 2011, buying Zellers from Hudson's Bay. Target wasted $2,000,000,000 before exiting in 2015.
Which leaves us Sears Canada.
The slow death of Sears Canada is similar to Watch Tower.
Instead of truly adapting, token efforts were made at peripheral changes.
The only thing that maintained Sears Canada was its real estate, and the real estate market exceeding in value far greater than the inflation rate since 1992.
Although that carried Sears for a quite-extended period of time, they were forced to liquidate real estate and consolidate stores, year after year.
All other measures of belt-tightening were exhausted, until the inevitable finally happened this year.
Watch Tower has been on a remarkably similar trajectory, especially over the past five years, although the beginning of the end started around the same time, in 1995 IMO.
They have tightened their belt as much as they can. There are no more cuts to be made.
Kingdom Hall consolidation is in full progress.
Just as there were no Millennials wandering the aisles at Sears Canada, Watch Tower is unable to replace their aging customer base.
There is a death-watch on, and it cannot be stopped.