Children’s Chain Ups Store Closings

Carter’s Inc. (Atlanta) said it plans to close 150 stores – rather than the previously announced 100 – and cut 300 office-based roles by year-end. The seller of baby and young children’s apparel under the Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh nameplates, disclosed those plans in a news release on its third quarter, for which its net sales were basically flat.

The staff and store downsizings represent a ramping up of the chain’s ongoing “productivity agenda,” said President and CEO Douglas C. Palladini.

“We are pursuing several initiatives, including closing low-margin retail stores, right-sizing our organization and honing product choices, which we believe will generate significant savings, improve overall cost structure and provide investment capacity as we establish the foundation to return to consistent, profitable growth going forward,” Palladini said. “In light of the difficult decisions being made to improve our performance, the board of directors and I have also decided to reduce our 2026 compensation.” (The release did not say by how much such pay will be cut.)

The company’s retail presence currently consists of 1000-plus Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Carter’s also supplies Walmart stores with Child of Mine apparel; Target with the Just One You line, and Amazon.com with its Simple Joys brand.