Recently teen clothing retailer Rue 21 announced it was closing down about a third of its locations and focusing on its online sales business. It's a long-standing trend that has been spelling doom for shopping malls. However, for surviving clothing companies, the store closures could be good news in the long run.
Retail store casualties
In the last decade, the internet has been putting the hurt on malls. Online retail has been growing by double digits and eating up market share. Traditional brick-and-mortar establishments have responded by offering merchandise online as well, but that hasn't stopped many retailers from closing up shop.
Rue 21 is the latest to hasten the trend. Final details have yet to be released, but about 400 closures are expected. Store closing sales are expected to begin soon, leaving about 700 Rue 21 stores left nationwide.
Image source: Getty Images.
Rue 21 joins a long list of diverse retailers that have been scaling back or closing down in the last year. Here are a few notable mentions:
| Aeropostale | After declaring bankruptcy last spring, the original fear was that all 720 locations would be closed. The company was saved for now, though, and 400 locations will stay open. |
| J.C. Penney |
The department store was a holdout against mass closures but recently said it would shutter 138 stores. Total count will be just shy of 900. |
| Wet Seal |
The beleaguered teen retailer closed up two-thirds of its stores a couple of years ago and decided to finish off the rest earlier this year. |
| L Brands, The Limited |
Another once-popular shopping mall star, The Limited decided to fold early in the year. |
| Macy's |
Another department store having trouble, Macy's is closing 68 locations as part of a plan to close 100 total stores in the next couple of years. |
Chart by author.
A shift in shopping preferences
The disruption of internet retail exposes the fact that maybe there has been too much retail out there. Fast-fashion chains like Zara and H&M are also hurting traditional companies. Stores are closing, and the industry is consolidating into fewer players.
Clothing options are dwindling away, and while the way consumers go about equipping their wardrobes may be evolving, the need for clothing obviously isn't going anywhere. Having one fewer fixture in the mall to compete against could go a long way to help the efforts of the businesses that remain.
One such business that is beginning to make a rebound is Gap (GPS -2.76%). The company has been right-sizing its operations, expanding its digital selling capabilities, and sped up its process to bring new styles to market. After a tough couple of years, sales are starting to show signs of picking up.
Data by YCharts.
Not all chains have suffered to the same degree in the last couple of years. In fact, some have continued to grow. American Eagle Outfitters (AEO -1.82%) has had success with its omni-channel business, with sales pushing higher from overseas expansion. Sales growth took a breather at last report from its strong run over the last few years, but management thinks its mix of physical stores and digital selling will keep working.
Data by YCharts.
Consider what the trend means
Many malls are closing and being demolished, and some in higher density areas are getting reworked as retail-office-residential hybrid buildings. That doesn't mean all retail as we know it is disappearing -- it's just evolving.
Investors in retail need to consider if their businesses are dug in enough to withstand the tidal wave of change, yet nimble enough to keep adapting. It will no doubt continue to be tough going. The need for merchandising real estate will eventually find a bottom, and the survivors of difficult times usually end up stronger than before. But at this point, it's a risky bet to make.
