Destination Maternity Has Filed for Bankruptcy
This popular maternity retailer is filing for bankruptcy! 😢
Destination Maternity, one of the leading maternity wear retailers in the U.S., filed for bankruptcy on October 21st. The company owned 458 U.S. stores at last count, including 362 Motherhood Maternity Stores, 26 Pea in the Pod stores, and 70 Destination Maternity stores. The retailer also operates maternity apparel departments in stores like Macy’s and Buy Buy Baby.
“This decision is a difficult, but necessary one,” said Lisa Gavales, Chair of the Office of the CEO of the Company. “Throughout this process we will be focused on developing the promising interest already shown by potential bidders, and maintaining operational momentum toward a stronger business.”
Destination Maternity has been struggling to operate under its heavy debt load, all while facing tougher-than-ever competition from larger retailers like Gap, Old Navy, H&M, Target, and Walmart. It has also encountered increased competition from online competitors like Asos, Pink Blush, Zulily and Hatch.
These difficulties were compounded by a challenge that is facing other maternity and baby-focused retailers as well – a dwindling demographic. The U.S. birthrate dropped to a 32-year low in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Destination Maternity is currently working to find a buyer in bankruptcy. If it is unable to do so, it will most likely be forced to liquidate.
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I was thinking the other day about how much shopping for maternity clothes has changed/progressed over the years. Back in 2002 when I had my first child, I had to go to the mall to buy clothes from Motherhood. I remember walking into a popular department store and asking where the maternity section was and receiving a blank stare. Now you can find maternity clothing in most retail stores, and in very trendy styles, at that! Sad to hear theyāre filing bankruptcy.
Aww I havnt been able to find any maternity near me in store except walmart, and it is a very tiny section. š I prefer maternity in store to try on to see the fit.
Sad. One of the few places I could find plus-size maternity clothes.
Yes! It was the only place that had plus size maternity. All of the other stores only had maternity for average sized people (e.g. XS – XL). I had to buy maternity bras for a large chest online as they didn’t carry them in the stores at all.
Noooo! Iām surprised theyāre going bankrupt with as much money as I have spent in this store with my 4 pregnancies. I love Motherhood Maternity.
Not surprised at all. Their prices were well out of the range I was willing to pay for a bridge wardrobe that I was only going to wear for a couple of months. In my opinion, maternity should be priced like fast fashion. Who wants to pay investment piece prices an item you’ll only need to wear a handful of months?
I agree. For my first pregnancy I went in a few times and purchased nursing bras and some tops from the clearance section if anything at all. For my second pregnancy I didn’t bother going in. I went in after having the baby for some more nursing bras and that has been it.
I’ve never even heard of this store.
Not surprising, honestly. Their maternity clothes are so overpriced – especially considering how short of a time you were them. I got most of my stuff from Walmart this last pregnancy and never paid more than $12 for a shirt!
Iām not surprised, the clothes was expensive for primarily polyester or poly blends and not a lot of selection for petite or nursing bras for busty women. I had better luck at Target for clothes and Cake Lingerie for nursing bras even though they are expensive.
Very sad. I love Motherhood Maternity. I bought so much clothes from them in 2017 when I was pregnant with my daughter. Their clothes quality is awesome and I loved the styles. Better than other stores that do not specialize in maternity clothes. I also was able to score good deals and each top wasnāt more than $15 each. I still have their clothes that I wish I could wear, but it would be silly to wear them when Iām not pregnant. Their stuff is so pretty!!
This is sad – I recently purchased my shower dress from there, and everyone LOVED it. I agree prices are high but they usually have sales – maybe just to attract buyers from impending bankruptcy. Look on the bright side, maybe if they file you can scoop up some really good deals!!