David’s Bridal has announced that it will eliminate more than 9,000 positions across the nation, according to a WARN notice filed to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor last week.
In total, David’s Bridal, one of the nation’s largest wedding gown sellers, is terminating 9,236 positions nationwide.
The layoffs have already begun in Pennsylvania, starting on April 14, and are set to finish on Aug. 11. The state will see 15 stores in nine counties affected by the cut.
As for other states, it has not been specified by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN) notice when layoffs would begin or the number of stores to be affected.
The layoff number is massive for the retailer, as the Wall Street Journal reported that the company employs more than 11,000 workers at more than 300 stores nationwide.
While speaking with CNN, a spokesperson for David’s Bridal shared that the company is not planning on closing any of its locations at this moment but that they were “evaluating our strategic options, and a sale process is underway.”
A WARN notice filed in Colorado shows that corporate employees were the first to see their jobs cut by the company, with distribution center workers expected to be on the chopping block in June. The notice then says that store employees are expected to face cuts from June to August.
“The layoffs are expected to be permanent, although new opportunities may become available depending on the outcome of the Company’s sale efforts,” Andrea Dauphinee, the company’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources, stated in the filings.
A report from The New York Times, citing those familiar with the matter, said the layoffs come as the company is preparing to file for bankruptcy for the second time in the last five years.
In 2018, David’s Bridal initially filed for bankruptcy after continuing to struggle with its debt and the declining sales of wedding dresses. It was able to recover in 2019, emerging from bankruptcy with new plans to fix its business.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic hurt the business even further, with weddings and social gatherings all but being stopped or taking non-traditional routes. While the company expected weddings to return with a vengeance, recent inflation has changed consumer spending habits, only exacerbating issues for many industries.
“At this time, there are no updates to share, and all stores are open to serve customers,” a spokesperson for the company told The New York Post. “Providing excellent service remains our focus and we are committed to serving and delivering for our brides and customers and being part of magical moments.”
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