Coresight Research tracks news about store closures and openings, bankruptcies and management changes. Our Weekly Store Openings and Closures Tracker focuses on department stores and specialty retail, including, but not limited to, softlines, hardlines, consumer electronics,grocery and furniture. 2018 Major US Store Openings and Closures Year-to-date 2018, the number of US store closure announcements stands at 4,136and the number of store openings is 1,985.

What Is Happening this Week in the US?

Italy’s O Bag to Roll Out 100 New Stores in the US

Italian retailer O Bag is accelerating its global growth plans, confident that its customizable handbags will gain an international following. In the US alone, it plans to open about 100 stores annually, beginning this year.

Non-Store-Closure News

PacSun Names New President

Specialty retailer PacSun has appointed Alfred Chang as President. Chang has been with the company since 2006, and in his new role, will oversee the brand’s design, merchandising, marketing, retail and e-commerce functions. He has been “critical” in expanding brand partnerships and establishing exclusive collections of in-demand brands and styles, according to the company.

Coresight Research has calendarized store openings/closures to attribute them to the year in which they fell or are expected to fall. This involves an estimation for some retailers. These include: Ascena, Gap, Lord & Taylor, The Children’s Place and Vera Bradley. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

Coresight Research has calendarized store openings/closures to attribute them to the year in which they fell or are expected to fall. This involves an estimation for some retailers. These include: Aldi, Costco, Gap, Lidl, Mackage. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

Year-to-Date 2018 Major US Store Bankruptcies

Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

2017 Major US Store Openings and Closures

Coresight Research has calendarized store openings/closures to attribute them to the year in which they fell or are expected to fall. This involves an estimation for some retailers. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

Coresight Research has calendarized store openings/closures to attribute them to the year in which they fell or are expected to fall. This involves an estimation for some retailers. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

2017 Major US Store Bankruptcies

Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

2018 Major UK Store Openings and Closures

Year to date in the UK, there have been934store closure announcements and 625 store opening announcements.

What Is Happening this Week in the UK?

The Original Factory Shop to Shut 32 Stores in CVA

The Original Factory Shop has launched a CVA proposal to close 32 of its 224 stores, while reducing rents—which are understood to be its biggest stumbling block—on the remaining stores. According to the company, the CVA should make it“well positioned to delivery on the new growth plan.”

Waitrose to Exit Five Stores

The John Lewis Partnership announced this week that its Waitrose grocery chain will dispose of five stores. It will sell four convenience stores to The Co-op and one supermarket to Aldi. The Co-op and Aldi had already announced aggressive store-opening campaigns.

Coresight Research has calendarized store openings/closures to attribute them to the year in which they fell or are expected to fall. This involves an estimation for some retailers. These include: Argos B&M, M&S, Monsoon Accessorize, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

Coresight Research has calendarized store openings/closures to attribute them to the year in which they fell or are expected to fall. This involves an estimation for some retailers. These include: Aldi, B&M, Foot Asylum, Greggs, Hema, Heron Foods, House, Lidl, M&Co, M&S, Pets at Home and Smiggle. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

2017 Major UK Store Openings and Closures

*Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced one store closure and are not charted. Coresight Research has calendarized store openings/closures to attribute them to the year in which they fell or are expected to fall. This involves an estimation for some retailers. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

*Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced one store opening and are not charted. Coresight Research has calendarized store openings/closures to attribute them to the year in which they fell or are expected to fall. This involves an estimation for some retailers. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research