High-end clothing retailer Nordstrom is shutting down all 13 stores in Canada and laying off 2,500 employees after failing to make a profit in America's neighbor to the north.
The company has already shuttered its ecommerce operations in the country. The decisions come as Nordstrom tries to shrink its footprint to ensure financial stability.
"We took decisive actions to right-size our inventory as we entered the new year, positioning us for greater agility amidst continuing macroeconomic uncertainty," said Erik Nordstrom, chief executive officer of Nordstrom, Inc., in an earnings release.
"We also made the difficult decision to wind down operations in our Canadian business. This will enable us to simplify our operations and further increase our focus on driving long-term profitable growth in our core U.S. business."
Like many retailers, Nordstrom has ramped up discounts and markdowns in recent quarters to keep its inventory levels in check. It's also struggled with slower sales due to inflation, which isn't expected to go away anytime soon.
“We expect that elevated inflation and rising interest rates will continue to weigh on consumer spending, especially in the first half of the year," said Michael Maher, interim chief financial officer, in an earnings call.
The closures in Canada are set to take place by June.
Sinead O’Sullivan breaks down Taylor Swift’s genius marketing for The Life of a Showgirl, which just set the record for most albums sold in a single week.
Markets are emerging from a turbulent Q3. Horizon’s Mike Dickson shares insights on interest rates, small caps, and where investors should look in Q4 and beyond
Bambu Ventures's Kyle Pretsch dives into Lemonaid’s $10M buyout, down from 23andMe’s $400M price tag, and what’s next after Chrome Co.’s dramatic pivot.
Grove Collaborative’s CEO shares how the company is reinventing everyday goods with sustainability at the core and working toward a plastic-free future.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens shares plans for affordable housing, community-led growth, and why private and public grocery stores could be key to food equity.
Tom’s Guide Editor-in-Chief Mark Spoonauer breaks down Apple & Amazon's latest product drops—what's hot, what's hype, and what really matters for users.