
Perry Ellis International said Thursday that it would close 15 stores, or about a fifth of its base, the latest sign of a shrinking physical retail presence across the U.S. as consumers increasingly opt to shop online. The decision is part of a broader plan to support the business as the Miami-based retailer reported a second-quarter loss that ballooned from a year earlier and said sales slid 5.5 percent.
Total Retail's Take: As often seems to be the case lately, we're reporting on another company closing brick-and-mortar stores. This time it's Perry Ellis; last week it was Macy's; the week before that, Office Depot. Who will it be next week? The economics for today's brick-and-mortar retailers are troubling — expensive leases, dwindling foot traffic, lost sales to online retailers (ahem, Amazon), and consumers that aren't willing to purchase without a discount. Those that succeed will smartly integrate other channels into the in-store experience, while providing a level of service that can't be matched online.

Joe Keenan is the executive editor of Total Retail. Joe has more than 10 years experience covering the retail industry, and enjoys profiling innovative companies and people in the space.