The US

2019 Major US Store Closures and Openings Year to date in 2019, US retailers have announced they will close 7,426 stores and open 3,039. Coresight Research estimates US store closures could reach 12,000 by the end of 2019. By week 15 of 2019, year-to-date announced closures had already exceeded the total for all of 2018. We recorded 5,864 closures and 3,258 openings for the full year 2018. Our data represents closures and openings by calendar year.

What Is Happening This Week in the US

Fred’s to Shutter Additional 129 Stores Discount retailer Fred’s has announced it will shut an additional 129 stores and hold inventory clearance sales, but did not disclose information regarding the timeline. Last month, the retailer announced the closure of 49 stores. After the latest round of closures, Fred’s will operate around 80 stores. Our closures total remains unchanged as we do not have confirmed details on timelines. Charming Charlie to Close All Stores Fashion and accessories retailer Charming Charlie has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to close all of its 261 stores. The company plans to cease all operations by August 31 this year. The retailer filed for bankruptcy in December 2017 and shuttered around 100 stores, but emerged from bankruptcy in April 2018. Coresight Insight: Inexpensive unbranded accessories are ubiquitous, with all manner of retailers offering fashion jewelry, from Amazon to Walmart. Many specialty apparel brands have added accessories to their merchandise categories to increase average transaction value as customers add on the additional small purchase, while online a low-cost accessory often help get a customer past the free shipping minimum. Undifferentiated jewelry no longer requires its own destination.  Experi Lululemon Opens Experiential Store  Lululemon opened an experiential store in Chicago on July 11 in the Lincoln Park neighborhood featuring exercise rooms, a meditation space and a cafe. The company may replicate the new concept at about 10% of its fleet by 2023. Coresight Insight: Lululemon’s Chicago store is a response to growing consumer demand for more experiences. It’s the company’s largest store, spanning two floors and over 20,000 square feet, featuring a café. It is community-based, offering two “sweat studios” that offer 6-10 classes per day, a meditation room, and a place for workshops and networking events. The store has partnered with 45 local brand ambassadors who are responsible for hosting workshops. At Home Opens 200^th Store; Plans to Open Six More Home décor and furnishings retailer At Home has opened its 200^th store, located in San Diego. The retailer now operates 200 stores across 40 states. The company opened 11 stores in its first quarter of fiscal 2020, which ended April 27, 2019. The company plans to open six additional stores this month, in Ohio, Tennessee, California, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Indiana.

Non-Store Closure News

Williams-Sonoma’s President Steps Down Williams-Sonoma announced that Janet Hayes, President of the company’s namesake brand, will leave the company effective August 1, 2019. Janet Hayes joined the company in 2007 and held her current role since 2013. She will be succeeded by Ryan Ross, Williams-Sonoma’s EVP of emerging brands. [caption id="attachment_93150" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which they occurred or are expected to occur. We estimate this for some retailers, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Athleta, Ascena Retail, Chico’s, Gap, Hibbett Sports, Old Navy Signet Jewelers, Tuesday Morning and Walgreens. We have estimated closures for Athleta, Gap and Old Navy based on the proportion of existing stores in North America.
*Ascena Retail excluding Dressbarn; these estimates were revised in week 24 from 400 to 120 based on closures announced in the company’s latest results
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research [/caption]   [caption id="attachment_93151" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which they occurred or are expected to occur. We estimate this information for some retailers, including Aldi, Five Below, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree and Costco
* Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced one store opening and are not included in the chart above
**Indochino openings refer to North America total openings, excluding one opening announced for the Greater Toronto Area Source: Company reports/Coresight Research [/caption]   2019 Major US Uncharted Openings and Closures The table below shows announced openings and closures that we have not included in our totals, as the companies did not provide detail on timing or location. [caption id="attachment_93152" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_93153" align="aligncenter" width="700"] *Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced between one and five store closures and are not included in the chart above **Foot Locker includes the Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Foot Action and SIX:O2 banners
***Urban Outfitters includes the Urban Outfitters, Free People and Anthropologie banners
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research [/caption]   [caption id="attachment_93154" align="aligncenter" width="700"] *Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced one or two store openings and are not included in the chart above
**Urban Outfitters includes the Urban Outfitters, Free People and Anthropologie banners
***Foot Locker includes Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Foot Action and SIX:O2 banners
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research [/caption]   2019 Major US Retail Bankruptcies [caption id="attachment_93155" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   2018 Major US Retail Bankruptcies [caption id="attachment_93156" align="aligncenter" width="700"] *A’gaci emerged from bankruptcy in August 2018
**Mattress Firm emerged from Bankruptcy in November 2018
***Sears Holdings emerged from bankruptcy in January 2019
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research [/caption]  

The UK

2019 Major UK Store Closures and Openings Year to date in the UK, major retailers have announced 397 store closures and 478 store openings. Our data represents closures and openings by calendar year.

What Is Happening This Week in the UK

M&S May Increase Store Closures M&S CEO Steve Rowe announced last week that the company's plan to shut 110 stores is not final, suggesting there could be more closures. In May this year, the company announced it would close 85 full-line stores and 25 Simply Food stores without disclosing details on locations or confirming timelines. Sainsbury’s to Shut Two Stores in Hull Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s has announced that it will shut two stores in Hull later this year. A company spokesperson confirmed the stores in Bricknell Avenue and Greenwood Avenue will close. Iceland to Close its Faversham Store in Kent Supermarket chain Iceland has confirmed it will close its store in Faversham, Kent. The company said in its statement that the store will close on September 14. [caption id="attachment_93157" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which they occurred or are expected to occur. We estimate this information for some retailers, including Homebase, Laura Ashley and New Look
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research [/caption]   [caption id="attachment_93158" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which they occurred or are expected to occur. We estimate this information for some retailers, including Iceland
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research [/caption]   2019 Major UK Uncharted Openings and Closures [caption id="attachment_93159" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_93160" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which they occurred or are expected to occur, and we estimate this information for some retailers, including Argos, B&M, Homebase, M&S, Monsoon Accessorize, Sainsbury’s and Tesco
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research [/caption]   [caption id="attachment_93161" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which they occurred or are expected to occur, and we estimate this information for some retailers, including B&M, Footasylum, Greggs, Habitat, Hema, Heron Foods, House, Iceland, Lidl, M&Co, M&S, Pets at Home, Sainsbury’s and Smiggle
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research [/caption]   Notes Figures represent store openings and closures that occurred, or are expected to occur, in the respective calendar years. For some retailers, store opening and closure numbers are estimated, including from part-year data, global figures or announced closure/opening programs that span multiple years. Estimates are updated as companies announce details. Figures for openings and closures are gross.