Torrid, a plus-size women’s specialty retailer, has substantially completed a major store optimization program that included the closure of 177 locations, according to statements made during the company’s second-quarter earnings call. The chain had initially announced plans in June 2025 to shutter around 180 underperforming stores from its fleet of just over 620 locations. The closures reflect broader shifts in consumer shopping behavior, with the retailer noting that digital channels now account for nearly 70% of total customer demand.
The company’s financial results for the second quarter showed mixed performance alongside the store reductions. Net sales decreased 11.8% to $231.7 million compared to $262.8 million in the year-prior quarter, while comparable sales declined 6.3%. However, profitability metrics improved, with gross profit margin increasing to 38.7% from 35.6% previously. Net income rose to $5.2 million, or $0.05 per share, compared to $1.6 million, or $0.02 per share, in the second quarter of the prior year.
Management attributed the store closures to the need to optimize the retail footprint and reduce fixed costs while reinvesting in digital growth initiatives. CEO Lisa Harper stated that customer retention through the transition remained strong, with marketing efforts successfully redirecting traffic to online channels and nearby remaining stores. Sales trends improved as the quarter progressed, with July marking what the company described as a clear inflection point.
Industry observers characterized the store closures as a necessary response to changing retail economics. The broader plus-size women’s clothing market is expanding, with e-commerce channels growing at the fastest pace and comprising more than 60% of sales. Market analysts noted that maintaining low-productivity physical locations had become increasingly untenable as digital sales dominated customer preferences, allowing the company to redirect capital toward online operations and customer acquisition.
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