Plus-size clothing retailer Torrid says it may close up to 30 per cent of its retail locations–close up to 180 underperforming stores– this year as the company aims to reduce fixed costs and reinvest in long-term growth. The announcement came during a recent earnings report issued June 5.
Torrid CEO, Lisa Harper said 70 per cent of the company’s total demand is now coming from online shopping. The brand is known for direct-to-consumer apparel, intimates, and accessories for women sizes 10 to 30.
Torrid to shut multiple stores in US
Founded in 2001, clothing brand Torrid targets younger demographic of plus-size consumers and over the years, it has evolved into a standalone brand with more than 600 stores across the United States, the brand’s website reveals. Torrid offers trendy and professional clothing designed exclusively for plus-size women.
The store closures are a part of Torrid’s move to a more digital-forward approach, the June 5th report said. Torrid CEO Lisa Harper said in a news release the retailer experienced a nearly 5 per cent decrease in first quarter sales compared to 2024. Since January, Torrid has already closed two locations, making the chain’s total store count 632.Torrid debuted its first New York Fashion Week collection in 2017. “We’re accelerating our transformation to a more digitally led business, which includes optimizing our retail footprint,” Harper said. As of June 10, Torrid has not shared which locations would be closing. Torrid did not immediately respond for comment about the closures when contacted by USA TODAY.
Torrid posted a net sales decrease of 4.9 percent in its first-quarter earnings report and it fell from USD 279 million for the first quarter of last year to USD 266 million this year. The company also reported a net loss of USD 7.3 million, compared to a USD 11.8 million profit during the same period in 2024.
The closures “better align our current demand and sales channels,” the report said.
“We remain in a strong financial position and are executing with clarity and focus,” Harper said. “I’m incredibly proud of our team’s commitment to delivering innovative product, deepening customer connections, and building a more agile, resilient business for the future.”
Christine Murphy, who has advocated online for the plus-size clothing industry since 2016, told USA TODAY that she was “devastated” to learn of the store closures. She said “a good chunk” of her closet is from Torrid, not out of choice, but because it’s one of the only remaining brick-and-mortars that offers her size.
Despite the closures, the company reported first-quarter results that met expectations. Torrid reaffirmed its full-year 2025 outlook, anticipating net sales between USD 1.030 billion and USD 1.055 billion.
While store closures are planned for the year, the timeline for winding down operations remains uncertain.
