Few brands have been more associated with the fast-fashion boom of the last two decades than Zara, the flagship apparel chain owned by Spanish clothing giant Inditex SA. It may surprise some consumers to learn, then, that Zara has in fact reduced its global footprint over the last few years since the pandemic. The brand's decline in physical storefronts has been moderate but meaningful, from a third-quarter peak of around 2,139 stores in 2019
Store closures have emerged as an ominous through line across the retail business landscape this year, with decades-old chains trimming their physical footprints, seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection-sometimes twice in one year-and even winding down operations altogether in some cases. Petco Health and Wellness Company is not facing such dramatic dire straits yet, but the beloved pet retailer has been reevaluating the size of its brick-and-mortar fleet as it struggles to lift its bottom line.
