Foot Locker Inc. said it will close stores across North America, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Asia) and Malaysia from March 17 through March 31. Store associates will continue to receive their wages during this time.
Foot Locker said in a statement, “The health and safety of its associates, customers, and suppliers is the top priority for the Company. In light of the rapidly evolving situation, Foot Locker, Inc. will temporarily close its stores across all of its brands in North America, EMEA, and Malaysia from March 17 through March 31 – that includes Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Footaction, Champs Sports, Runners Point, and Sidestep. The rest of the company’s locations in the Asia Pacific region, which include Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand – will remain open subject to direction from local and national governments.”
The company said customers can continue to shop online through its websites and mobile apps across all of the company’s brands and regions.
Due to the rapidly evolving market conditions domestically and internationally, the company said it is withdrawing the full-year 2020 guidance issued on the fourth-quarter earnings call on February 28. The company will provide an updated outlook on its first-quarter earnings call.
“The decision to close our stores was a difficult but necessary one,” said Richard Johnson, Foot Locker, Inc.’s chairman and chief executive officer. “The well-being of our associates and the communities where we live and work is of the utmost importance to us. When the time comes to re-open our stores as a place to inspire and empower youth culture, our store teams will be prepared to engage and deliver great customer experiences. During this time period, we will continue to pay our highly-valued store associates.”
Logo courtesy Foot Locker
