UK-based fashion retailer Long Tall Sally will wind down its operations, citing existing pressures that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. COO Alison Doherty noted “the changing economics of retail, along with fierce competition” as significant ongoing challenges, and the fact that the weight of the pandemic made continued operations untenable.
“The economic outlook is now too uncertain for our shareholders to continue to support the business, so it’s with a very heavy heart that I must tell you we will be winding down Long Tall Sally,” said Doherty in a blog post. “Please know we explored every possible avenue to continue trading, but the financial impact of the pandemic means the business is no longer sustainable.”
The retailer has not entered administration [the UK equivalent of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection], and it is open to being acquired or selling off assets to save the brand. Long Tall Sally did not set an official closure date but it plans to shut down its web site at the end of August.
Long Tall Sally, which specializes in clothing for women 5 feet 8 inches or taller, was founded in 1976. It was acquired by Germany-based Tristyle Mode GmbH in 2016 and closed all its brick-and-mortar stores in 2018, according to WWD.
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