Mall stalwart Gap’s rough year — including a distribution center fire, store closures, and a “too normal” clothing line — is getting a bit rockier, as the company announced it will soon close most of its Banana Republic-branded stores across the pond.
Bloomberg reports that the Gap will close the eight Banana Republic stores in the UK by the end of the year.
A spokesperson for the company says customers in the U.K. can continue to purchase apparel and other items on the chain’s website. Additionally, one Banana Republic store will remain in each Italy and France.
The closures aren’t exactly surprising: Gap announced it would review Banana Republic’s overseas presence and would close what it deemed were poor-performing stores earlier this year, Bloomberg reports.
Sales at Banana Republic’s European division have dwindled in recent years, falling 15% in the most recent quarter.
Gap has been working to revive its brands, which also include Old Navy. Those efforts have the retailer focusing more on its stateside business, announcing in May that it would close all 53 of its Old Navy stores in Japan.
Gap’s Banana Republic Chain to Close U.K. Stores as Sales Slip [Bloomberg]
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist
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