Dress Barn
Women's clothing retailer specializing in professional and casual wear.
PE-OWNED
Acquired by Advent International2010-07-15
What Made It Great
Value-oriented women's apparel chain serving working women
What PE Will Likely Do
Dress Barn will likely announce store closures and staff reductions within the first 6-12 months of the acquisition to cut costs
The quality and selection of women's professional and casual clothing at Dress Barn stores will likely decline over the next 12-24 months as the company reduces inventory levels and defers maintenance on stores
Dress Barn may eventually file for bankruptcy protection or be sold off in a fire sale within 4-5 years as the cost-cutting measures fail to stabilize the business
Expected Timeline
“0 to 6 months months”
Dress Barn will likely announce plans for a 'turnaround' and 'optimization' of the business under Advent International's ownership
“6 to 12 months months”
The first round of Dress Barn store closures and staff reductions will likely be announced as Advent implements cost-cutting measures
“12 to 24 months months”
Consumers will likely notice a decline in the quality and selection of Dress Barn's women's professional and casual clothing as the company reduces inventory levels and defers store maintenance and renovations
Similar Cases
Other companies that followed a similar path after PE acquisition
What You Can Do
Actions
Consumers should be prepared for a potential decline in the quality and selection of women's professional and casual clothing at Dress Barn stores over the next few years
Consumers who rely on Dress Barn for their work and casual wear should consider alternative retailers that may better meet their needs in the long run
Alternatives
Employee-owned warehouse retailer
Publicly traded retailer with strong values