SAN FRANCISCO (KRON/AP) — Gap plans to close 175 of its stores and cut hundreds of jobs at its San Francisco headquarters as the company tries to strengthen the struggling brand.
Gap Inc., which owns Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic, said Monday it will close about 140 Gap stores in North America in the fiscal year that ends Jan. 31 – and the remainder afterward – based on factors that include location and performance. The retail giant also plans to cut 250 jobs at its San Francisco headquarters. An undisclosed number of stores in Europe are also slated for closure.
The moves are the latest attempt by the company to improve the shaky performance at its namesake brand. The brand that used to be a go-to for generations of khaki pants wearers has suffered in more recent years as it’s failed to keep up with the right design trends.
In a statement, Gap president Jeff Kirwan said: “These decisions are very difficult, knowing they will affect a number of our valued employees, but we are confident they are necessary to help create a winning future for our employees, our customers and our shareholders.”
Gap has taken other measures to try and improve sales, including shaking up its management ranks. Art Peck became CEO in February and leadership of the Gap and Banana Republic brands was changed. The company also has been working to overhaul its fashions to improve their appeal. And it got rid of its Piperlime line.
The latest moves are aimed at making the company more nimble. Gap said the job cuts at its headquarters, in particular, are intended to make it faster and more decisive. In total, Gap said store closings and job cuts will save it around $25 million a year. The company said it will take about $140 million to $160 million in charges related to the moves.
The stores that will close, which won’t include Gap Factory or Gap Outlet locations, have about $300 million in annual sales out of Gap’s total of $16 billion. After the closings the company will have about 800 Gap stores in North America, down from around 960 now. The company declined to say how many people work in those stores. The company also did not elaborate on whether those workers would be laid off or displaced.
Gap doesn’t expect the moves to affect its other brands, most of which have been performing better than Gap stores. In fact, Gap Global President Jeff Kirwan told The Associated Press that the company will apply lessons it’s learned from its Old Navy brand, which has been a bright spot, to Gap.