Soft Surroundings, a popular women's clothing store, is closing its doors in Kansas City, Kansas. This store has been a favorite shopping destination since it opened in 2012.
As the store prepares to close, customers can expect significant clothing discounts. This is a chance for shoppers to grab deals on their favorite fashion items.
The closure of this Soft Surroundings location is part of a more significant trend of retail stores shutting down. However, it's not just a time of goodbyes; it's also a time for shoppers to enjoy huge savings.
Final Days for Soft Surroundings at Plaza
Soft Surroundings, a well-known women's fashion retailer, is about to close its store in the Country Club Plaza. This store has been a part of the community for 12 years.
A store employee revealed this Monday that the last day for this location will be Sunday, February 25. This closure follows the company's bankruptcy filing last year.
In its final week, the store is offering massive discounts to shoppers. Prices are slashed from 70% to 90% off across the store's entire inventory, offering a last opportunity for customers to purchase their favorite items.
Before declaring bankruptcy, Soft Surroundings had expanded to over 40 stores across the United States. However, now, all of its locations are either already closed or in the process of closing.
Despite the physical store closures, Soft Surroundings isn't disappearing entirely. The company will continue selling products online. Its website, acquired by Coldwater Creek apparel company during bankruptcy, will serve as the brand's new platform for direct-to-consumer sales. This move indicates a shift in the company's strategy to focus more on online retail.
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Soft Surroundings Shifts to Online Focus
Early in the pandemic, Soft Surroundings operated 80 stores. However, court records reveal that the retailer faced significant challenges in recovering from the impact of the pandemic. Lost sales and changes in the market during and after the outbreak heavily affected the company.
The closure of several stores led to a surplus of inventory. To manage this excess stock, the company offered promotional prices. While these promotions attracted customers, they also reduced the company's profit margins. Over time, this strategy contributed to a steady decline in the company's financial reserves.
According to court documents, Soft Surroundings closed 25 stores last year. Now, the company is transitioning entirely away from physical stores. Coldwater Creek, which acquired Soft Surroundings, plans to transform the brand into an exclusively online direct-to-consumer (DTC) business.
The company's recent sales figures back this shift towards e-commerce. Last year, online sales constituted a significant portion of the company's revenue, bringing in $141.6 million. This accounted for 65.4% of Soft Surroundings' total sales, highlighting the growing importance of digital platforms in the retail sector.
Recently, the company has experienced financial difficulties. Over the past few months, they have been working hard to stabilize their finances, as confirmed by Bridgit Lombard, the company's Executive Chair.
Lombard mentioned the efforts made to strengthen the company's financial health in her statement. "Over the past year, we have taken significant steps to fortify our financial standing, including rightsizing our business to match current market conditions better," she explained. This indicates the company's proactive approach to adapting to the evolving market and securing its future.
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