Soft Surroundings
{{short description|American women's clothing retailer}}
{{Update|reason=Information should reflect post-bankruptcy|date=February 2024}}
{{infobox company
| name = Soft Surroundings
| logo = File:Logo_of_Soft_Surroundings.png
| type = Women's clothing store
| foundation = {{Start date and age|July 18, 1999}}, St. Louis, Missouri
| location_country = U.S.
| location = St. Louis, Missouri
| industry = Retail
| products = {{ubl|Women's clothing|bedding}}
| num_locations = 44
| num_locations_year = 2023
| owner = {{ubl|Independent| {{smaller|(1999-2012)}}|Brentwood Associates {{smaller|(2012-23)}}|Coldwater Creek|{{smaller|(2023-present)}}}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.softsurroundings.com/}}
}}
Soft Surroundings is an American catalog chain specializing in women's clothing and bedding products. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, it currently has 44 locations nationwide, most of which are located in lifestyle centers and indoor shopping malls.
History
Founded in 1999, Soft Surroundings began as a catalog mailing service company in St. Louis, Missouri.{{Cite web|url=https://www.softsurroundings.com/faq/about-us/our-story/|title=Soft Surroundings Our Story|access-date=September 11, 2023|website=Soft Surroundings|language=en}}
In 2005, the firm began expanding its retail footprint, by opening its first and flagship store in its home in St. Louis.{{Cite web|url=https://businesspress.vegas/economy/small-business/soft-surroundings-opens-first-las-vegas-store/|title=Soft Surroundings opens first Las Vegas store|date=April 9, 2017|access-date=September 11, 2023|website=Business Press|language=en}} Upon being acquired on August 14, 2012 by Brentwood Associates, it had plans to expand its mailing service and expand its retail footprint over the next many years.{{Cite web|url=https://multichannelmerchant.com/marketing/brentwood-associates-acquires-majority-stake-in-soft-surroundings/|title=Brentwood Associates Acquires Majority Stake in Soft Surroundings|date=August 14, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2023|website=Multichannel Merchant|language=en}}
On March 18, 2016, it revealed its plans for its retail footprint and announced that it would open more than 20+ stores over the rest of 2016, which would bring its total amount of stores from 29 to around 50 stores by 2017, with the 50th store being located in Omaha, Nebraska. Plans call for nine more stores to open by the end of 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/profiles-strategies/2016/03/charlotte-soft-surroundings-founder-talks-big.html?page=all|title=CHARLOTTE: Soft Surroundings founder talks big expansion|date=March 18, 2016|access-date=September 11, 2023|website=Biz Journals|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.stlmag.com/design/style/soft-surroundings-celebrates-50th-store-opening/|title=Soft Surroundings celebrates 50th store opening|date=June 9, 2017|access-date=September 11, 2023|website=St. Louis Mag|language=en}}
Soft Surroundings was rapidly declining between 2022 and early 2023, forcing the company to close nearly 30 of its over 70 underperforming stores. Back in June 2022, Soft Surroundings was planning on restructuring completely and refocusing its entire assortment on Gen X women to boost sales.{{Cite web|url=https://www.modernretail.co/operations/why-soft-surroundings-is-refocusing-on-gen-x-shoppers/|title=Why Soft Surroundings is refocusing on Gen X shoppers|date=May 16, 2023|access-date=September 11, 2023|website=Modern Retail|language=en}}
=Bankruptcy=
On September 11, 2023, the firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As well as being reported that its remaining 44 stores would be closed permanently, it was announced that its e-commerce business and mailing catalog service would be sold.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/soft-surroundings-files-for-bankruptcy-to-close-all-stores-6ab5a050|title=Soft Surroundings Files for Bankruptcy to Close All Stores|date=September 11, 2023|access-date=September 11, 2023|website=The Wall Street Journal|language=en}} The final stores shuttered on February 24, 2024.
On December 7, 2023, Soft Surroundings was sold to Coldwater Creek.{{Cite web|url=https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/features/mergers-and-acquisitions/coldwater-creek-acquires-soft-surroundings-adopts-new-returns-solution|title=Coldwater Creek Acquires Soft Surroundings, Adopts New Returns Solution|work=Retail Touch Points|date=7 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14|language=en-US}} Coldwater Creek, which had filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in 2014, was acquired by Hong Kong-based procurement, logistics and product development company, Newtimes Group, in 2020. Newtimes Group is one of the world's largest suppliers to the apparel industry.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.softsurroundings.com/}}
Category:Retail companies of the United States
Category:American companies established in 1999
Category:1999 establishments in Missouri
Category:Retail companies established in 1999
Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023
Category:Clothing retailers of the United States