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Weeks after Bed Bath & Beyond disclosed which of its namesake stores would close, the company warned of “pressures on the business.”
The New Jersey-based home goods retailer announced in a news release Tuesday that December and January comparable sales were down 5.4% driven by “store traffic declines combined with inventory management issues, and increased promotional activity and markdown.”
“We are experiencing short-term pain in our efforts to stabilize the business, including the pressures of store traffic trends coupled with our own executional challenges,” CEO Mark Tritton said in a statement, noting online sales growth of 20%. “I believe we can solidify this growth, while also addressing the broader stabilization of our business.”
Shares fell $3.76 or 25% in after-hours trading, dropping to $11.10.
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Tritton joined Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., which also operates buybuy Baby, Harmon Face Values and World Market, in early November and was an executive at Target.
“We are beginning to make bold and broad-based changes to modernize our business and better serve our customers,” Tritton said in the statement. “Our ability to achieve this and change the trajectory of our current results will take time, as we remaster the fundamentals of merchandising, pricing and promotion, and focus on our digital channels as part of our go-forward strategy.”
It was unknown late Tuesday if more store closings could be in the company’s future but officials have discussed looking at store leases and performance.
During a Jan. 8 quarterly earnings call with analysts, company officials said they still plan to close 60 stores across all of its concepts but that 20 of the 40 Bed Bath & Beyond stores scheduled to close would be delayed until the first half of the year. Fourteen locations shuttered in late 2019.
“As we take steps to position Bed Bath & Beyond to deliver long-term sustainable growth, we are fast tracking our efforts to rebalance our portfolio, reset our cost structure, and enhance our leadership and talent,” Tritton said.
Macy’s store closings map:Macy’s is closing 125 stores with the first locations closing soon: Is your location on the map?
Is your Bed Bath & Beyond store closing?:See the full list of the 40 stores shuttering in 2020
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko
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