A popular women's fashion chain, Soft Surroundings, is closing all its stores nationwide. Customers can find big savings on clothes because of these closures.
The company, known for its women's clothing, shoes, bedding, jewelry, and beauty products, is shutting down all 43 locations.
One of its stores at Rookwood Commons in Norwood, Ohio, has already closed its doors.
Soft Surroundings Closes Kansas City Store
Soft Surroundings, a well-known fashion retailer, has closed its doors at another location, this time in Kansas City, Kansas.
The store, situated in the Country Club Plaza, welcomed customers for the last time on February 25. Since opening in 2012, it has been a go-to spot for local shoppers.
Like the previously mentioned closure in Norwood, the Kansas City branch offered massive discounts in its final days, slashing prices by 70% to 90%.
Employees have been informed that Soft Surroundings will close its stores by December or January.
The retailer has locations in Texas at Southlake Town Square, Preston Park Village in Plano, The Arboretum at Great Hills in Austin, Town and Country in Houston, and Kingsgate Center in Lubbock.
Based in St. Louis and catering to upper-middle-class women around 60, the company declared bankruptcy in Houston earlier this month.
This follows a series of notable retail bankruptcies in 2023, including Dallas-based Tuesday Morning, Bed Bath & Beyond, Party City, David's Bridal, Rockport, and Christmas Tree Shops.
Additionally, Louis Shanks, a luxury Texas furniture retailer established in 1945 in Austin, announced it is closing its last two stores in Austin and San Antonio after expanding into Houston.
Despite filing for bankruptcy, the company will keep selling products directly to customers through its website. This move comes after Coldwater Creek, an apparel company, purchased the website during the bankruptcy proceedings.
Also Read: Macy's Announces Major Scale-Back: 150 Stores to Close Amid Declining Sales
Soft Surroundings: Rise and Fall of a Retail Giant
Soft Surroundings, established in 1999 in St. Louis, Missouri, began as a catalog mailing service. By 2005, the company branched into physical retail, opening its flagship store in St. Louis.
After being acquired by Brentwood Associates in 2012, the brand saw significant expansion, setting in motion a growth plan that included opening more than 20 stores in 2016, increasing its presence to around 50 locations. Plans continued ambitiously, with nine additional stores opening in 2017.
However, Soft Surroundings encountered severe challenges, with sales plummeting in 2022 and 2023. In response, the company aimed to restructure in June 2022, targeting sales more towards Gen X women. Despite these efforts, declining sales led to the closure of nearly 30 of its over 70 underperforming stores.
The financial strain culminated in the company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September of the previous year. The closure of its remaining 43 stores was announced, and in December 2023, Coldwater Creek acquired the beleaguered retailer.
In a related note, a renowned tourist company declared bankruptcy six months after securing a significant contract, with an executive citing a failure to rebound as the primary cause.
Rent the Runway, a well-known fashion rental service is reportedly close to declaring bankruptcy. The company has faced challenges in various aspects of its business, including fulfilling customer orders and keeping its subscribers, as noted by PYMNTS.
A study by CreditRiskMonitor indicates a significant risk, ranging from 9.99% to 50%, that the online clothing rental company may file for bankruptcy within the year.
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