Urban Outfitters Inc. will overhaul its leadership in an effort to streamline its brands

By

Emily Jensen

Published
Apr 28, 2017

Urban Outfitters, Inc., which controls brands such as Anthropologie, Bhldn, Free People, Terrain and Urban Outfitters, has announced a major overhaul to its leadership. According to the company, the overhaul will streamline each brand. The new strategy could incur costs of up to $8 million, but Urban Outfitters maintains it will lead to around $25 million in future savings.

 
As stated in a press release, the restructuring will provide shoppers with a more “compelling shopping experience.” The move will also help each brand operate more efficiently, the company stated. However, the statement — part of the retailer's obligation as a public company to inform share holders of such changes — was sparse on details, making no mention of how any specific positions would be effected or other details about store operations.
 
Urban Outfitters, Inc. operates both retail and wholesale divisions. Its wholesale divisions include the production of Free People-branded merchandise, which is sold in its Free People shops as well as other department stores. Its retail division also includes, in addition to its major fashion chains Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, restaurants operated under the Vetri Family, such as Pizzeria Vetri and Osteria.

The Urban Outfitters brand has faced controversy recently, including an incident in which UK shoppers found an overpriced Primark T-shirt for sale in Urban Outfitters stores. The brand has also struggled to maintain its image and stay relevant as young shoppers see the store as having lost its uniqueness. Urban Outfitters currently has more than 240 stores across North America and Europe.