Another teen store bites the dust as allowances dry up
Filed under: Shopping, Bankruptcy
The once-hot teen clothing sector has cooled considerably since Saks bought this chain in 2003 for $12 million, and it has been downright chilly for the last few months as the economy fell apart. The recession has curbed liberal teen spending as parents have started to say no, and even teens have felt the pinch of losing jobs.
The latest sales figures show that spending at teen-oriented stores has been down almost across the board, as chains like Old Navy, Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle struggle. Only Aeropostale has been a winner in the numbers. Meanwhile, several other teen chains are in trouble, like Arden B and Demo, a spin-off of PacSun.
Teen Stores in Trouble
Saks will be closing all locations of its troubled Club Libby Lu stores, which appeal to girls age 6 to 13, over the next six months. The club has nearly 100 branches in shopping malls across the US, but has not been a profitable addition to Saks' business.
Paul J. Richards, AFP / Getty Images
Arden B, a sister chain to teen-apparel retailer Wet Seal, could be one of the casualties of weak back-to-school sales. The specialty store, which caters to people in their 20s, is in a considerable slump.
Frank Franklin II, AP
The Limited Too, a division of Tween Brands Inc., that catered to 7-14-year-old girls, has already lost out. All 600 stores will be converted lower-priced Justice brand, which just launched in 2004. Demo, a sister chain of Pacific Sunwear, is also closing up shop.
Mark Lennihan, AP
The one teen-oriented store that is thriving the best is Urban Outfitters, which also owns Anthropologie and Free People, with sales up 13 percent overall.
George Widman, AP
It's not just teen brands that are suffering. Ruehl, a spin-off of Abercrombie & Fitch that is aimed at older shoppers, is also struggling, but the company is sticking with the concept for now.
Candice C. Cusic, Chicago Tribune / MCT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-12-2008 @ 3:38PM
Valentine said...
Wow... the prosti-tot training school is closing?? Who will teach young girls everywhere to be superficial and dress like a skank now??
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11-06-2008 @ 2:49PM
MOM said...
There are a variety of choices at Club Libby Lu--you do not HAVE to allow your child to dress inappropriately. A six year old should not be dressing like a 13 year old anyway. There are plenty of things at Club Libby Lu for ALL the ages--from 6 to 13. It's UP TO THE PARENTS to take control over their daughters!
11-06-2008 @ 4:31PM
julidreams said...
Wow.... Reading comments like this make me laugh... And hope you don'thave any children of your own. If you do, I sure pity them. You may want to take up residency in your nearby Omish community. What a prude!
11-06-2008 @ 3:01PM
Mercedes said...
This store is not a store teenage girls shop at, so why is it being called a teen store? It's a little girls dress up store, and I'm happy to see it will be gone. It just gives kids another thing to beg for, and parents spend WAY to much money for low quality product.
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11-06-2008 @ 2:46PM
lynnie said...
"prosti-tot" LOL Now that's funny! Clever...and well put!
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11-06-2008 @ 2:51PM
Zaphod said...
6 to 13 is not teen
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11-06-2008 @ 3:48PM
JLq said...
Yep, dress em up and make em up like little hookers and then act all shocked and horrified when they get popped.
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11-06-2008 @ 3:43PM
Donna said...
And don't those little girls just look thrilled to be there? Seems not just us parents weren't too happy!
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11-06-2008 @ 3:51PM
Laura said...
Never heard of this store. Wouldn't go there even if I have.
And yeah, that was pretty funny: "prosti-tot" !!!
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11-06-2008 @ 4:29PM
J9 said...
there's one at disneyland's downtown disney district. i'm wondering if they're going to shut that one down too.
11-06-2008 @ 3:58PM
BSA said...
Beth Pinsker evidently doesn't know the definition of a teenager.
Wait a minute, she will probably become a lead reporter for the NY Times. (lol)
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11-06-2008 @ 4:19PM
Nana of 9 said...
My granddaughters have visited the store for their birthdays and it was a lot of fun for them, and for me to watch them enjoying getting their hair & nails done...
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11-06-2008 @ 5:53PM
WTF @$$HOLE said...
F U C K Y O U
11-06-2008 @ 4:19PM
Deepa said...
What a dumb thing to say, I have been working at Libby Lu for more then a year we dress the girls up as princesses not whores. Just cause mothers choose to buy clothes for there kids that are designed for teens. That isn't our fault. It so sad that this store is closing, little girls are going to be crushed.
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11-06-2008 @ 4:30PM
genevieve said...
Excuse me? Did I just read the words "teen clothing chain"? I don't know a single teenager that could fit an arm through those clothes. I believe you meant "toddler slut" clothing chain. Big difference.
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11-06-2008 @ 4:34PM
jm said...
Dear JLQ,
It was funny, you know, when I assigned my students to write a 5 page paper on any topic they wanted to, as long as the souces cited were done correctly, and the paper was good. Well. one of my students did her research at beauty contests for little girls, and the results that engaging in this activity had on their youthhood. As you can imagine, it is almos a full-time job training to be a beauty queen as a 5 year old, with lessons on walking, posing, and facial expressions. And the attention that is placed on using make-up to draw out their best features, as well as the training in how to select clothes that flatter their shape, there apparrently is a shape that is desireable at that age, ears better points with their parents than double digit counting, or a bested alphabet.
As their parents begin to see them as objects of external attention, as she explained, these same parents don't take anywhere as seriously their child's education, so the child learns it is not the way to get attention in their own family, but what does...winning a beauty contest. What terrible pressure on a young child, and how it does distort reality for these poor little girls, who, as they get older, the situation only gets worse.
And as far as the effect on their sexual lives, well, it becomes the natural end of their superfluous littlle, sexy, lives. Any mother who would parade their daughters around like junior prostitutes, has to look into their own lives and try to find out what it was that their own lives were missing, That they are trying to achieve what they always wanted for themselves through their children through the lives of their children...Get a life and don't sell your childrens'through
through your 'aideals"; you never know, theirrrrs might be better than yours...
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11-06-2008 @ 4:53PM
jejozi said...
JM, if you're a teacher our children are in deeeeeep dodo.
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11-06-2008 @ 6:30PM
GD said...
AMEN
11-06-2008 @ 7:22PM
UncleD said...
Well said.
11-06-2008 @ 4:54PM
janice said...
I'm shocked the article states that parents are starting to say NO!! omg !!! what will the children do without all that way too expensive stuff they don't need or even want after 2 or 3 hours !! it's about time parents got smart and stopped trying to outdo each other, from clothes to BD parties, etc...
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