More bad news for malls nationwide: teen retailer Rue21 is shutting down approximately 400 stores in an effort to focus on its online business, according to the Associated Press. The closing represent one-third of the retailer’s brick-and-mortar operations, leaving approximately 700 stores and its e-Commerce site in operation.
No information about when these stores will shutter has been disclosed, but Rue21.com is already promoting store-closing sales.
The retailer confirmed the news in a Facebook post, stating: “It’s true — we are closing some stores. It was a difficult but necessary decision. We still have hundreds of locations across the country, and our website rue21.com, open for business.”
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Like other mall retailers, Rue21 has been struggling with declining foot traffic. Rue21 joins retailers such as Wet Seal, which announced it will close all of its 170+ stores in early January 2017, and bebe, which — like Rue21 — closed all brick-and-mortar locations to focus on its e-Commerce business.
Can focusing on e-Commerce operations save mall-based retailers like bebe and Rue21? One thing is for sure, these brands will need to ensure they provide an exceptional online customer experience, so the pressure is on.
