earnings

Pier 1 Imports is No CB2

Pier 1 Imports Is learning the hard way that looks are everything.
article cover

Steve Morgan, Pier 1 Imports sign - Hillsboro, Oregon 2013, CC BY-SA 3.0

· less than 3 min read

Retail news that keeps industry pros in the know

Retail Brew delivers the latest retail industry news and insights surrounding marketing, DTC, and e-commerce to keep leaders and decision-makers up to date.

Pier 1 Imports is learning the hard way that looks are everything—at least, for customers who wake up to its chartreuse paisley comforters every. Single. Morning.

In Q1, Pier 1 sales decreased almost 16% to $314 million. It also reported a net loss of $82 million, more than doubling from the same time last year. Following the report, shares collapsed like every couch I’ve ever tried to build alone, down 16% Wednesday.

For once, digital rivals aren’t at fault. Pier 1 Interim CEO Cheryl Bachelder said the brand’s current products “do not reflect the unique on-trend assortments that our customer is accustomed to finding when they come to Pier 1.” Translation: We know our fish rugs are heinous.

And adding insult to injury, its real estate portfolio will also take a hit. Pier 1 will close 57 stores this year to cut costs—12 more closures than it estimated in April.

Retail news that keeps industry pros in the know

Retail Brew delivers the latest retail industry news and insights surrounding marketing, DTC, and e-commerce to keep leaders and decision-makers up to date.