Latest news with #KellyCook
New York Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
When Trade Wars Crash the Wedding
Brides have a lot to juggle when planning their weddings. Now, add tariffs to the list. When President Trump imposed steep tariffs on China and other countries, couples quickly realized that geopolitics could blow up their budgets for the big day. Everything from flowers to linens to catering might get more expensive. And that includes the wedding gown. About 90 percent of wedding dresses sold in the United States are made in China, according to the National Bridal Retailers Association. Distressed brides are on TikTok, sharing budgeting advice. As one of the millions of Americans currently planning a wedding — an estimated two million ceremonies are expected to take place this year — I watch at least a dozen of these videos a day. Kelly Cook is watching, too. In April, she became the chief executive of David's Bridal, the largest wedding dress retailer in the United States. The company, which says it sells one in three wedding dresses in America, relies heavily on workers in China to produce its gowns, which typically sell for $700 to $800. Ms. Cook, who was previously president of brand, technology and finance at the company, has recently shifted dress production to countries throughout Southeast Asia. By this summer, none of its dresses will be made in China, down from two-thirds at the end of last year. But that won't necessarily spare the company from tariffs, given the global scope of Mr. Trump's levies. It's just the latest challenge for David's Bridal, which tipped into bankruptcy twice in five years, most recently in 2023. The company has nearly 200 stores across the United States and Canada and about 5,000 employees. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Miami Herald
29-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
After Chapter 11 bankruptcy, key retailer debuts new store concept
The past few years have been tough on the retail industry, and no sector of the market has been spared. We've seen popular mall clothing stores shutter and niche stores like Party City and fabrics giant Joann say goodbye for good. The trouble started in 2020, when stay-at-home orders forced consumers to do their shopping online. Retailers that weren't ahead of the game on the shipping front lost out to giants like Amazon and Walmart that already had those networks in place. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Once society reopened, inflation started to take a toll. And while it's cooled these past couple of years, consumers are still grappling with higher costs. Related: Iconic mall retailer closing more stores this month That's forced a lot of people to make changes in the way they spend money, including cutting back on retail purchases. And so not surprisingly, a number of popular brands have been forced into bankruptcy as a result of sluggish sales. Image source: Getty Images The pandemic not only hammered the retail industry, but it also did a number on the wedding industry. At a time when people were told not to get within six feet of each other, the idea of gathering dozens of guests in a room to celebrate someone's marriage wasn't exactly feasible or appealing. Related: Walmart makes surprise cuts as it looks at tariff price hikes Not surprisingly, David's Bridal lost out on a ton of business not just during the pandemic, but in the months that followed. So it wasn't surprising when the company filed for Chapter 11 in April of 2023, marking the company's second bankruptcy filing. The first took place in 2018. At the time, the goal of filing for bankruptcy was for David's Bridal to reduce its debt and reorganize. The company was able to save about 200 stores from closing and keep them operating. But it was clear at the time that the brand needed a refresh. And that's been the focus since. David's Bridal has been trying to reinvent itself since filing for bankruptcy. Part of that shift has the company building out an online marketplace that goes beyond traditional wedding dresses to include men's attire and party dresses. Now, David's Bridal is debuting a new store concept called Diamonds & Pearls in Delray Beach, Florida. If it proves successful, the company plans to open additional locations. Related: Iconic department store flagship survives, still could close Diamonds & Pearls will carry merchandise that's not available at other David's Bridal locations. The goal is to pare down inventory and instead offer a more exclusive, curated assortment of products that range from "affordable luxury to couture." "[Diamonds & Pearls] is where trend meets tradition, where high fashion meets high touch and high tech, and where we bring the full power of David's and all of our offerings into a modern, elevated setting," CEO Kelly Cook said in a statement. In addition to carefully selected inventory, Diamonds & Pearls will feature digital technology that makes it easier for customers to shop. Given the past struggles of David's Bridal, it makes sense for the company to try to position itself as a hipper, more tech-savvy version of what it's known to be. The question, though, is whether it will succeed. More Retail: Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customersTarget makes a change that might scare Walmart, CostcoTop investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brandWalmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers At a time when consumers are spending more cautiously, many are bucking the traditional wedding trend in favor of low-key gatherings. It will be interesting to see if David's Bridal is able to stay afloat during these interesting economic times. But having filed for bankruptcy twice already, the company is no doubt eager to avoid flirting with a third go-round. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
You Can Now DoorDash a Wedding Dress. Yes, You Read That Right
Last-minute brides can now get a wedding dress delivered right to their door in under an hour, thanks to an exciting partnership David's Bridal recently confirmed it was teaming up with DoorDash to allow those planning to tie the knot the ability to order dresses, accessories and more "David's takes the stress away so you can focus on celebrating and feeling beautiful and confident for any special occasion," the company's CEO, Kelly Cook, said in a previous press releaseDavid's Bridal has a new service for brides who might need a wedding dress — fast. The 75-year-old bridal boutique recently announced it was teaming up with DoorDash to provide brides-to-be the option to get a wedding dress delivered to their door in under an hour from its 180 locations nationwide. Since the launch with DoorDash, David's Bridal has made over 2,000 deliveries with delivery under an hour, with the majority of orders coming from Las Vegas. This marks the first time DoorDash, which is the largest food delivery platform in the U.S., has branched out into the wedding and special occasion category, a previous press release stated. Customers "will have quick and easy access to everything they need with a few taps of a button, to make every occasion special, take the stress out of the wedding and event planning process or solve last-minute snafus," the release added. Kelly Cook, CEO of David's Bridal, said, "We are thrilled to partner with DoorDash. When we tested the partnership in the market, customer feedback was fantastic! Our 'Anywhere Commerce' strategy means just that - anywhere she wants it. 'I can't believe it, how fun?!' was our favorite customer quote," per the previous release. "We're already seeing dresses, accessories and intimates as the top David's product categories being shopped through DoorDash," Cook said in December. "Whether you prefer the convenience of doorstep delivery to help save time during the planning process, need a perfect dress for a last-minute holiday party invite, a save-the-day solution to a suddenly stained bridesmaid dress on the big day or a fabulous pair of 'party-all-night' shoes - David's takes the stress away so you can focus on celebrating and feeling beautiful and confident for any special occasion," she added. Cook told CBS MoneyWatch this month that approximately 17 percent of David's brides are looking for dresses for weddings that are less than three weeks away. "So we have to serve the last-minute brides," Cook said, per the outlet. It's been an exciting few months for David's Bridal, as the company just opened a "new boutique bridal experience" store called Diamonds & Pearls in Delray Beach, Florida. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. According to a press release: "With bespoke styling appointments with David's expert Personal Stylists, exclusive in-store product offerings, and thoughtfully designed interiors, this location further reflects David's commitment to showcasing exceptional artistry and craftsmanship, extending from its carefully curated collection of bridal attire to every detail in the thoughtfully designed interior space, unlike anything David's has done before." The launch comes just over two years after David's Bridal announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2023. It was acquired by CION Investment Corporation in July of that year, Forbes previously reported. Read the original article on People
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
David's Bridal opens new retail concept for wedding dresses called Diamonds & Pearls
David's Bridal opens new retail concept for wedding dresses called Diamonds & Pearls Show Caption Hide Caption Wedding website tips: How to share important details with guests Wedding websites can help your guests easily access information about your big day. Problem Solved David's Bridal is opening a new bridal retail concept aimed at delivering "elevated, curated and personalized" experiences for brides looking for the perfect wedding dress. The concept, announced last Thursday, shares the name of a popular Prince song: Diamonds & Pearls. It looks to provide a "space that seamlessly blends timeless elegance with contemporary allure," according to the company. "At David's, we believe every bride deserves a magical experience-and it starts the moment she walks into one of our stores," said Kelly Cook, CEO of David's Bridal, in the news release. "With Diamonds & Pearls, we're taking this promise to the next level." Where is the first Diamond & Pearls location? The first Diamonds & Pearls location is currently open to shoppers and booking appointments in Delray Beach, Florida, with a second location to open later this year, David's Bridal said in a news release. The store aims to blend the "hospitality of a high-end bridal boutique with David's recent technology" and is designed for "a new generation of brides who crave modern styling options, personalization, and a luxurious way to shop for their dream dress," according to the company. According to David's Bridal, Diamonds & Pearls stores will feature a "thoughtfully edited selection" with approximately one-third the options found in a traditional David's Bridal store, tailored to the "most trending styles and silhouettes." The store concept also aims to "revolutionize" its in-store and digital retail experience, the company said. Store openings: IKEA opening new locations in 2025 and 2026. Here's where. David's Bridal dealt with bankruptcy woes The opening of this new concept comes amid troubles in recent years for the retailer. In April 2023, David's Bridal filed for bankruptcy and laid off more than 9,200 employees. In July 2023, they were able to sell the business to asset manager Cion Investment Corp in a no-cash transaction, Reuters reported. And in 2018, the chain also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection but came out of it the next year. Contributing: Amanda Pérez Pintado; Reuters Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
David's Bridal opens new 'elevated' retail concept called Diamonds & Pearls
David's Bridal is opening a new bridal retail concept aimed at delivering "elevated, curated and personalized" experiences for brides looking for the perfect wedding dress. The concept, announced last Thursday, shares the name of a popular Prince song: Diamonds & Pearls. It looks to provide a "space that seamlessly blends timeless elegance with contemporary allure," according to the company. "At David's, we believe every bride deserves a magical experience-and it starts the moment she walks into one of our stores," said Kelly Cook, CEO of David's Bridal, in the news release. "With Diamonds & Pearls, we're taking this promise to the next level." The first Diamonds & Pearls location is currently open to shoppers and booking appointments in Delray Beach, Florida, with a second location to open later this year, David's Bridal said in a news release. The store aims to blend the "hospitality of a high-end bridal boutique with David's recent technology" and is designed for "a new generation of brides who crave modern styling options, personalization, and a luxurious way to shop for their dream dress," according to the company. According to David's Bridal, Diamonds & Pearls stores will feature a "thoughtfully edited selection" with approximately one-third the options found in a traditional David's Bridal store, tailored to the "most trending styles and silhouettes." The store concept also aims to "revolutionize" its in-store and digital retail experience, the company said. Store openings: IKEA opening new locations in 2025 and 2026. Here's where. The opening of this new concept comes amid troubles in recent years for the retailer. In April 2023, David's Bridal filed for bankruptcy and laid off more than 9,200 employees. In July 2023, they were able to sell the business to asset manager Cion Investment Corp in a no-cash transaction, Reuters reported. And in 2018, the chain also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection but came out of it the next year. Contributing: Amanda Pérez Pintado; Reuters Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: David's Bridal's new Diamonds & Pearls offers high-end wedding dresses Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
