Florida-Based Clothing Retailer is Laying Off More Employees

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2023 hasn't been the kindest year for some clothing retailers. Foot Locker closed over 500 stores. And retailers like Gap, Banana Republic, RealReal, Macy's, and J.C. Penney also closed stores, according to Business Insider.

And now it seems that a Florida-based clothing retailer that had previously expanded is not immune from financial issues, as it recently announced that it was laying off 129 employees.

What is Venus Fashion and What is Its History in Florida?: Venus Fashion is based in Jacksonville and sells women's clothing including swimwear, holiday wear, and lingerie. The company has been in business since 1982.

In 2017, the company expanded into a larger space in Jacksonville due to "business growth." At that time, according to the Jax Daily Record, Venus had around 1,000 employees, with 75 of them at the Jacksonville location.

The Upcoming Layoffs And The Layoffs That Have Happened in The Past: On November 13, 2023, the company notified the Florida Department of Economic Activity via WARN letter that it would be laying off 129 employees from the Jacksonville location. The company did not give an explanation as to what led to the layoffs.

This is not the first time Venus Fashion has laid off employees. In September of 2023, it laid off around 120 employees - also from the Jacksonville location, according to First Coast News. At that time, Venus did not disclose the reason for the layoffs, either.

According to NNY360, Venus Fashion also previously laid off 50 employees in Dexter, New York in 2019.

The WARN letter says that the Jacksonville employees being laid off will leave their jobs in mid-January of 2024.