Amazon Closing Clothing Stores

[ClownLoach]

I already commented on another thread, but I thought it would get more attention with the more accurate subject line announcing the closure of these stores, which will barely eclipse 18 months of operation when they shut down.

The article says Amazon will continue to open new stores (type unstated) and also revamp the Fresh grocery chain referencing the remodeled Chicago stores. Since we have seen work happening in Pasadena and possibly Irvine it is probably safe to assume all Fresh stores will undergo the light remodel to remove the gates and Just Walk Out tech, add dash carts and self checkouts plus the center store that seemingly is being run by a wholesaler for them.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/02/amazon- ... shift.html

[Alpha8472]

The clothing was very high shrink. Clothing is very hard to keep track of with the Just Walk Out technology. If someone grabs a bunch of towels it is difficult to count the huge wad of towels. Perhaps RFID chips would have been a better idea.

The small format clothing store seems to be working for Macy's.

[ClownLoach]

The clothing was very high shrink. Clothing is very hard to keep track of with the Just Walk Out technology. If someone grabs a bunch of towels it is difficult to count the huge wad of towels. Perhaps RFID chips would have been a better idea.

The small format clothing store seems to be working for Macy's.

I'm not sure how they had any shrink. The concept was that it was a showroom with mannequins dressed in outfits and if you wanted to shop then you saw an employee and everything was brought to a fitting room from the warehouse.

[Alpha8472]

Thieves find a way. However, it probably was more due to dismal sales. These stores seem doomed to fail, and they closed them down so quickly. Amazon probably knew they would fail and just went through the motions to please Wall Street.

[ClownLoach]

Thieves find a way. However, it probably was more due to dismal sales. These stores seem doomed to fail, and they closed them down so quickly. Amazon probably knew they would fail and just went through the motions to please Wall Street.

The entire concept seemed to be shrink proof, but at the same time it was the opposite of the type of experience Amazon would typically offer (all full service which is costly).

[babs]

Unfortunately, the Amazon Style stores were probably better than the small format Macy's stores.

[buckguy]

The clothing was very high shrink. Clothing is very hard to keep track of with the Just Walk Out technology. If someone grabs a bunch of towels it is difficult to count the huge wad of towels. Perhaps RFID chips would have been a better idea.

The small format clothing store seems to be working for Macy's.

I'm not sure how they had any shrink. The concept was that it was a showroom with mannequins dressed in outfits and if you wanted to shop then you saw an employee and everything was brought to a fitting room from the warehouse.

Basically the old catalog showroom model. Those places ultimately tried to be more like regular discount stores before they vanished. The model worked for some items better than others (small appliances, for example). You still have employee shrink, but I'd imagine it was based on the idea that people would accept some inconvenience if the price was better and showrooms relied on selling a wider range of items in a category than discount stores. Worked for awhile for hardlines, but doesn't seem like a good fit for clothing, although some showrooms had done well with jewelry which is easier to manage. Amazon seems to keep trying models of retail that no one is asking to have.

[storewanderer]

Amazon and its ongoing "try anything" and disconnect from the reality of what customers want or need is very Sears 90s and early 00s like.

Amazon has done many fantastic things but they seem to be more and more focusing on the wrong things.