Kelly Tyko, USA TODAY – Published 10:03 a.m. ET July 12, 2019 | Updated 10:03 a.m. ET July 12, 2019
The retail apocalypse isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.
Six months into 2019, there have already been 20% more store closings announced than in all of 2018, according to a new report from global marketing research firm Coresight Research.
Based on Coresight Research’s figures and retailers’ earnings reports, more than 7,000 stores are slated to shutter this year with thousands of locations already gone.
Bankrupt footwear company Payless ShoeSource, which closed its remaining U.S. stores last week, accounts for about 37% of the closings.
The “going-out-of-business” sales and liquidation of other brands is expected to continue. Coresight estimates closures could reach 12,000 by the end of the year, the report said.
Coresight, which has offices in Manhattan, London and Hong Kong, tracked the 5,864 closings in 2018, which included all Toys R Us stores and hundreds of Kmart and Sears locations.
The record year for closings was 2017, with 8,139 shuttered stores, Coresight found. This included an earlier round of Payless closings, the entire HHGregg electronics and appliance chain, and hundreds of Sears and Kmart stores.
The pain is expected to continue into future years, according to an April report from UBS Securities. UBS analysts said 75,000 more stores would need to be shuttered by 2026 if e-commerce penetration rises to 25% from its current level of 16%.
A separate analysis by UBS said tariffs on Chinese imports could put $40 billion of sales and 12,000 stores at risk.
“The market is not realizing how much brick & mortar retail is incrementally struggling and how new 25% tariffs could force widespread store closures,” UBS analyst Jay Sole wrote in the May report. “We think potential 25% tariffs on Chinese imports could accelerate pressure on these company’s profit margins to the point where major store closures become a real possibility.”
Thousands of locations have already closed this year with the final Payless stores finishing their liquidation sales in June. All Charlotte Russe stores closed in April but the company’s new owner has started to open new stores.
Payless ShoeSource: 2,589 (includes 248 Canada locations and 114 smaller-format stores in Shopko Hometown locations).
Gymboree/Crazy 8: 749
Dressbarn: 649.
Charlotte Russe: 494; but the company’s new owner is opening new stores.
Shopko: 371
Charming Charlie: 261
LifeWay Christian Resources: 170
Topshop: All 11 U.S. stores
Henri Bendel: 23
E.L.F. Beauty: 22
More closings
Some of the announced closures may carryover into 2020, which was the case with several closings announced in late 2018 such as Lowe’s, Sears and Kmart. Gap Inc. announced Feb. 28 it would close roughly 230 stores over two years. Some retailers also are opening new stores while closing locations including Bath & Body Works and Abercrombie & Fitch.
Family Dollar: As many as 390 stores
Fred’s: 313; 159 closed in May; 105 stores closed in June; and liquidation is underway in 49 stores.
Chico’s: 74, but 250 over the next three years.
GNC: 233
Gap: Roughly 230 in next two years
Walgreens: 195
Foot Locker: 165, total includes closings outside of the U.S.
Signet Jewelers: The parent company of Kay, Zales and Jared said it would close another 150 stores.
Pier 1 Imports: 57, but up to 145 could close.
Ascena Retail: 120
Destination Maternity: 117
Sears: 72
Victoria’s Secret: 53
Vera Bradley: 50
Office Depot: 50
Kmart: 48
CVS: 46
Party City: 45
Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores: 45
The Children’s Place: Up to 45
Z Gallerie: 44
DKNY: 41
Stage Stores: 40 to 60
Bed Bath & Beyond: 40
Abercrombie & Fitch: 40
Francesca’s: At least 30 stores
Build-A-Bear: Up to 30 over two years
Williams-Sonoma: 30
J.C. Penney: 27
Bath & Body Works: 24
Southeastern Grocers: 22
Saks Off 5th: 20
Lowe’s: 20
J. Crew: 20
Macy’s: 8
Nordstrom: 7
Target: 6
J.Crew: 5
Kohl’s: 4
Whole Foods: 1
Calvin Klein: 1
Pottery Barn: 1
Source: Coresight Research; staff research
