5 Forces That Stripped Apparel Sales In The Last Decade

In 2020, bankruptcy courts have been crowded with retailers. So far this year, there were 27 Chapter 11 filings by major chains. All but seven have something in common besides a pandemic with no end in sight: They depend to some extent, if not entirely, on sales of apparel. Some run too many stores and lack strength in e-commerce, others struggle to get their merchandising right. While the pandemic, which has clearly sapped demand for apparel, may have tipped some into bankruptcy, the sector’s trouble began well before. The long list of bankrupt or nearly bankrupt retailers last year was similarly dominated by those selling apparel and footwear. Read more at Retail Dive.