Chico's FAS Cuts 200 Jobs as Part of Restructuring

Chico's FAS is cutting 200 positions at its corporate headquarters as it restructures, the company disclosed last week in its second-quarter earnings release. The company has endured a challenging time over the past few years in the competitive and evolving world of women’s retail apparel. In February 2015, 240 corporate management positions were cut. All told, 75 of the eliminated positions were open, equating to 165 layoffs. There were also a small number of layoffs in June of this year.

Total Retail's Take: Chico's isn't immune to the pressures that traditional brick-and-mortar retailers face in transitioning to a more digital environment. Unfortunately, some difficult steps have to be taken to get there, and that often means people losing their jobs. Chico's is overhauling its business under the leadership of CEO and president Shelley Broader, who joined the company in October 2015. We'll see if these organizational changes — which include investments in digital and business analytics — lead to a more profitable Chico's.