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The Retail Apocalypse

I think with all this retail going under, developers will replace ground floor retail space with street fronting "townhome" units (unless the city gets stubborn about regulations)
Townhouse units would be disappointing.

I hope they embrace live-work units instead and just let the market figure out what to do. Some may become doctors and dental offices, others mom-and-pop shops, and more just residential units, but at least it won't be "fixed" as one class of unit.
 
J.C. Penney to cut 1,000 jobs, close 152 stores

July 15, 2020

J.C. Penney Co Inc said on Wednesday it would cut about 1,000 jobs and shutter 152 stores as the U.S. department store chain looks to emerge from Chapter 11 protection and the COVID-19 crisis.

The layoffs would impact corporate, field management, and international roles and eligible departing employees would receive a severance package. The company is also in talks with its landlords regarding store closures.

 
Canadian Fashion Retailer ‘Mendocino’ to Permanently Shut Stores Amid Insolvency

July 21, 2020

Toronto-based women’s fashion retailer Mendocino says that it will shut most or all of its stores amid insolvency. The company’s 20+ units, operating under Mendocino and M Boutique banners, are located in Southern Ontario, primarily in the Greater Toronto Area.

Publication Insolvency Insider reported that the insolvent Mendocino filed a Notice of Intention pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act to restructure the business. A filing document by KSV Advisory Inc. notes that Mendocino is not bankrupt at this point although some or all of the company’s stores will be closing as the retailer focuses on selling online.

 
New openings: Polestar
Closings:
  1. All Chicos and White House/Black Market Stores to close
  2. Moores filing for bankruptcy
  3. Laura Shoppes filing for bankrtupcy
Plus various other news.

 
Capri, Ralph Lauren quarterly results indicate widespread damage to apparel sales

Even consumers better insulated from the pandemic's financial fallout are reserving their discretionary funds for items in other categories.

Aug 5, 2020

As apparel retailers buckle under intensified pressure brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak, several that cater to middle-income and budget-minded consumers have turned to bankruptcy and other restructuring measures. But quarterly results from Ralph Lauren and Capri in recent days demonstrate that clothing companies selling to higher-income customers aren't immune to its fallout, either.

Capri, which runs the Michael Kors, Versace and Jimmy Choo brands, on Wednesday reported that total Q1 revenue fell 66.5% year over year to $451 million and the company swung to a net loss of $180 million, from net income of $45 million last year. Earlier this week, Ralph Lauren said Q1 revenue fell 66% to $487 million, also swinging to a net loss of $128 million, from net income of $117 million a year ago. Neither company reported store comps, as physical locations spent much of the quarter locked down in an effort to stem the spread of the disease.

"With the results from both Capri and Ralph Lauren out, a clear pattern is emerging: the pandemic has deteriorated demand for apparel and accessories across the board, but nowhere more so than in the luxury sector," GlobalData Retail Managing Director Neil Saunders said in emailed comments, adding that a falloff in tourism has also depleted sales of upscale brands like these, as has the lower traffic to their outlet stores.

 
Estée Lauder will close up to 15% of its stores, exit some department stores

Aug. 21, 2020

Dive Brief:
  • Estée Lauder on Thursday announced a two-year post-pandemic "Business Acceleration Program" in conjunction with its fourth quarter earnings, which includes reducing its physical footprint and shifting priorities online. The company aims to close 10% to 15% of its standalone stores globally as part of the effort, according to a company press release.
  • The beauty giant will be reevaluating its role in department stores as well, closing "certain less productive department store counters" and investing savings from those and its own store closings into digital initiatives. The company hopes to save $300 million to $400 million annually from the efforts.
  • As part of the plan, the beauty retailer will cut about 3% of its global workforce, or around 1,500 to 2,000 positions. The layoffs are mostly related to sales employees and "related support staff" in some of the regions impacted most by the plan.

 
Here's why observers say Simon Property Group is bailing out bankrupt retail chains

August 23, 2020

In mid-August, Simon Property Group in a joint venture agreed to buy Brooks Brothers and Lucky Brand Jeans out of bankruptcy for $325 million and $140.1 million, respectively.

According to market speculation and other reports, Simon Property Group and rival mall owner Brookfield Property Partners could partner to buy J.C. Penney, which also has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

 
Gap Inc. will close 225 stores this year, more in 2021

Aug 28, 2020

Dive Brief:
  • Gap Inc. on Thursday said it will close yet more Gap and Banana Republic stores for a net total this year of 225, and more planned for 2021. Among them is the company’s San Francisco flagship. Second quarter store comps, which reflects online sales and sales days in stores that have reopened, rose 13%.
  • The news comes as the apparel retailer bested analyst expectations with month-over-month sales improvements. Second quarter net sales fell 18% year over year to $3.3 billion, with sales at Gap down 28%, Old Navy down 5%, Banana Republic down 52% and Athleta up 6%.
  • Pandemic-related store closures hurt sales in the quarter, though e-commerce nearly doubled year over year and 90% of the fleet has reopened as of Aug. 1, according to a company press release. The company swung to a net loss of $62 million from $168 million in net income a year ago.

 

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