In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many retailers are stepping up and taking preventative measures to put the safety of its workers and consumers first.
For a number of retailers, this means temporarily closing its stores — and in some cases, company-wide operations — to prevent the spread of Coronavirus across North America.
Here is a list of retailers who have chosen to temporarily close stores in response to COVID-19.
Note: This article will be updated as more stores and brands announce temporary COVID-19 store closures.
Apple
Apple was amongst the first retailers to make the call on COVID-19 store closures. While shoppers can still visit the online store and the Apple Store app, all retail locations will be closed until March 27.
Patagonia
Patagonia was also amongst the first retailers to announce the temporary closure of stores. The outdoor retailer temporarily closed its stores, offices, and other operations on March 13. At the time of writing, the retailer’s online store is closed as well and Patagonia plans on reassessing the situation on March 27.
Nike
With the well being of teammates and shoppers at top priority, Nike made the decision to close stores in multiple countries including Canada and the U.S. to help limit the spread of the Coronavirus. The closures came into effect on March 16 and will run until March 27, though you can still shop online and through Nike apps.
Urban Outfitters
Another retailer taking precautions in light of COVID-19 is Urban Outfitters. In a statement to the UO community, the company announced that it would be temporarily closing stores globally. Urban Outfitters noted that stores will not reopen until at least March 28 and all team members will continue being paid during this time. The online store and app are still open to shop.
Anthropologie
Urban Outfitter’s sister store Anthropologie will also be temporarily closing stores. In a statement released on Instagram on March 15, the retailer announced that stores will be closed until at least March 28. The online store and app will still be accessible to shoppers during this time.
Free People
Another retailer in the Urban Outfitters family that announced COVID-19 store closures is Free People. The retailer announced via Instagram that effective March 15, all stores will be closed until March 28. The online store and app will remain open.
lululemon
On March 15, lululemon announced that it will be temporarily closing stores across North America and Europe from March 16 to 27. In the statement, the athleticwear company noted that all employees will still receive pay for all hours scheduled to work and will have access to lululemon’s Global Pay Relief plan.
Reformation
Reformation announced that it will be taking precautions and close stores until further notice. The statement, which was released on March 14, did not specify when stores will reopen but did reassure that retail staff will be receiving paid leave and that the online store will remain open.
Lush
In a statement, Lush let shoppers know that all 258 retail stores across Canada and the U.S. will be closed until March 29. The company also noted that due to its made fresh by hand operations, that it will be significantly scaling down its manufacturing and distribution. For the time being, Lush’s online store will continue to run, though shoppers should expect digital orders to take extra time.
Abercrombie & Fitch
In a statement, Abercrombie & Fitch announced that it will be closing all of its stores outside the Asia-Pacific region as of March 15. This includes abercrombie kids. Its online stores will remain open and the company will be extending its return policy to cover the period of store closures. There is no set reopen date for its physical locations as of yet.
Hollister Co.
Hollister Co., which is apart of the Abercrombie & Fitch family of stores, will also be closing all of its stores outside of the Asia-Pacific region as of March 15. Like Abercrombie & Fitch, its online store will remain open with an extended return policy.
Aritzia
On March 15, Aritzia released a statement on Instagram that noted all retail locations will be closed until further notice. In order to support its employees during this time, the Vancouver-based retailer set up a Community Relief Fund, stating that “all of Aritzia’s profits while we get through this challenging time, will go to the Aritzia Community Relief Fund to support our people and their families.” Aritzia.com is still accessible for those looking to shop.
Under Armour
In a statement to Business Insider, Under Armour confirmed that it will be temporarily closing stores in North America. The stores will be closed until March 28, and all employees will be compensated during this time. The online store and its online outlet continue to stay open.
UNIQLO
UNIQLO announced store closures in a letter to its community. All retail locations across Canada are closed until March 30, effective May 17. Shoppers are still able to shop online in the meantime.
Levi’s
Another retailer that’s made the decision to close is Levi’s. The denim retailer has temporarily closed Levi’s and Levi’s Outlet stores across North America and plans to reopen on March 27. All staff are being compensated during this time and the online store is still open to shop.
Nordstrom & Nordstrom Rack
As of March 17, Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores in the U.S. and Canada will temporarily close for two weeks. All of the store employees will be provided with pay and benefits during this time.
Sephora
On March 17, Sephora made the difficult decision to close all of its retail locations in Canada and the U.S. All retail workers will be paid during the hiatus. Sephora stores are planned to reopen on April 3, but until then, you can still shop the online store and receive free shipping with the promotion code “FREESHIP”.
Hudson’s Bay
Hudson’s Bay has temporarily closed all stores until the end of March, with store associates receiving pay for all scheduled shifts. At this time, thebay.com is still up and running for shoppers and the Canadian department store has extended its return policy. For online shoppers who have placed a “Buy Online Pick Up In Store” order, the retailer is arranging curbside pick up.
Holt Renfrew
The upscale department store made the decision to temporarily close all of its retail locations on March 17. The retailer did not announce when it planned on reopening. The online store remains open to shop with free shipping and returns.
Harry Rosen
Another upscale department store closing its doors to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 is Harry Rosen. On March 17, it announced that all Harry Rosen, Harry Rosen Outlet, and Zegna-branded stores would remain closed until March 31.
Zara
Fast-fashion giant Zara has temporarily closed 3,785 stores globally, including its Canadian locations, though its online store remains open. During this time, Inditex, the company that owns Zara, has made a major push to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus, donating much-needed masks for patients and medical workers in Europe.
IKEA
On March 18, IKEA announced that it would close all of its Canadian stores in order to “support social distancing efforts and based on recommendations from local health authorities.” While the stores are closed, IKEA’s 7,300 store employees across the country will be supported by a “comprehensive benefits package and paid leave policy” and the online store will still be open to shop.
H&M
All H&M retail locations will be temporarily closed until April 2. Employees will continue to receive pay during the two weeks of closures. During the closures, H&M’s online store will still be open and the retailer is offering 90-day returns, free shipping, and free returns.
Aldo Shoes
The Montreal-based footwear and accessories retailer announced that it would close stores across Canada, the U.S., the U.K., France, and Ireland until March 31. The online store is still open to shop and the retailer is offering free standard shipping on all orders and extended returns.
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With each spring comes a revival of life – flowers bloom, the sun emerges, warm weather returns and everything just seems brighter… Unless, you’re in the retail industry. In retail, spring signals the restructuring of the Canadian retail landscape from sector bankruptcies. After a long harsh winter, especially like those in Canada, some retailers don’t make it through. Look at Express, BCBG, Bebe, Payless and American Apparel, just a few major retailers who have all pulled out of the Canadian market within the last year.
One of the main, undeniable reasons is e-commerce. The reality isn’t that people aren’t shopping at malls anymore – they are, and retail spending continues to grow at a meager but steady pace – however, other trends have surpassed shopping malls.
Logo-driven brands, like Hollister and Abercrombie, that thrived in the early 2000s when coolness was measured by the size of the logo on your sweater, simply became uncool at an alarming rate. Logo-driven clothing was replaced with vintage fashion, something that can’t be found at local malls.
Abercrombie & Fitch (Image: Instagram/@aidanknicholson)
Also, why even go out to a mall and buy new clothes when you can purchase them online from the comfort of your own home? You can basically get anything and everything you’d ever want or need on Amazon nowadays. The rise of e-commerce, coupled with the oversupply of malls, has come to change the face of shopping for the average consumer.
Millennials have also focused their spending elsewhere. Rather than going on a shopping spree, they are spending their money on travelling across the globe and nights out with friends at fancy restaurants.
These factors lead to more and more mall spaces being orphaned by those retailers leaving Canada’s fashion market, but the situation may not be as bad as some may fear. It may seem like some sort of retail apocalypse is taking over in which shopping malls are following the dinosaurs to impending extinction, but that’s just not the case.
There are still people who go to malls because they enjoy the experience of shopping. Back in the day, the only way to shop was to go to the mall. Now, there are multiple ways to shop meaning shopping malls have taken a back seat, but they haven’t gotten out of the car completely.
The recent series of fashion failures does not signify the end of malls, but rather an opportunity for growth, making way for new retail stores and multiple expansions to the Canadian fashion market.
Multiple new retailers are filling the empty mall space, including many Canadian brands such as Canada Goose, Simons and Aritzia. In addition, newer foreign retailers are increasing their presence in Canada’s market including Uniqlo, Samsung and Christian Louboutin.
Inside Canada Goose’s Yorkdale store (Image: Grayson Miller)
There’s no denying that the current retail market is a bit rocky, but Canada is still doing much better than the US. Retailers are lucky that per capita retail penetration has been – and still remains – lower in Canada than the US. According to a study from the Retail Council of Canada, per capita penetration of shopping malls in Canada is 16.5 square feet per person, compared with 23.6 square feet per person in the US.
But it is also important to note that malls are more than just malls nowadays. They’re a place of retail-tainment; a place of both shopping and entertainment. People no longer just go to a mall to buy a new shirt, they go for an experience. They want to see a movie, go out for dinner and buy that new shirt all in one place.
Does this change what malls once were? Yes, but it’s a good kid of change. With the use of ambience, emotion, sound and activity that retail-tainment introduces, it actually gets customers further interested in the merchandise and in a mood to buy. Does it take away from the overall retail experience? No. In fact, it adds to a whole new shopping experience.
Malls aren’t dying, they’re just changing.
Do you agree that the death of malls is not coming? Let us know in the comment section.
Featured Image: CF Toronto Eaton Centre via Instagram/@jasonskung
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