Why Recessions Forge Great CEOs Who Think Beyond Cost-Cutting
04/15/2025
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But the CEOs who make history in downturns aren’t the ones with the deepest cuts
September 19, 2022: -Bed Bath & Beyond has advised dozens of the approximately 150 stores it plans to close.
The struggling home goods retailer released its plans last month to shutter the “lower producing” locations, representing about 20% of its namesake funds.
The closures are part of a broader plan to try to stabilize the company’s finances and turn around its refusing sales. Bed Bath secured more than $500 million in recent financing in late August, including a loan, ahead of the critical holiday season. Its workforce is getting smaller, too, as it cut its corporate and supply chain staff by about 20%.
Bed Bath & Beyond posted a list of 56 namesake places it will close. They are scattered across the U.S., from California and Nevada to Ohio and Florida.
The retailer operates other chains, too. It had 135 Buybuy Baby stores and 51 locations under the Harmon, Harmon Face Values, or Face Values banners at the end of the fiscal first quarter. It is adding to its baby goods banner, regardless. It opened five Buybuy Baby stores in those three months that ended May 28.
Already, Bed Bath & Beyond’s footprint has shrunk significantly. Over the past two years, it has dropped by about 35% as the company shuttered other sites. It had 1,478 stores at the end of the first quarter of 2020. By the same time this year, it had 955 stores, including 769 Bed Bath & Beyond shops.
Bed Bath & Beyond is at a crucial moment. It has put up quarter after quarter declining sales and burned through cash as it remodeled stores, developed private brands, and purchased back its stock. Its same-store sales fell 23% in the first quarter and 26% for the three months ended August 27.
The company is scheduled to report its full second-quarter results later this month.
Bed Bath & Beyond is searching for new leadership to take over for its interim CEO and CFO. Its board pushed out Mark Tritton, a Target veteran tapped as chief executive in 2019 to lead a turnaround effort, and Joe Hartsig, its chief merchandising officer. The company eliminated the jobs of the chief store officer and operating officer. Its chief financial officer, Gustavo Arnal, died by suicide earlier this month.
Shares of the company are down about 38% so far this year. As of midday Thursday, the stock was trading around $8.90, up roughly 1.6%.
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But the CEOs who make history in downturns aren’t the ones with the deepest cuts
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