Express, Bonobos Bought Out Of Bankruptcy

Retail
Written By Rick Watson

Express Inc. is a retail company that has been in business for over 40 years, primarily offering business casual apparel. The company has struggled with declining mall foot traffic and shifts in fashion trends, leading to a bankruptcy filing in April. The joint venture will also manage the Bonobos brand, keeping over 450 physical stores open and nearly 7,000 jobs intact.

Phoenix Retail, a joint venture between WHP Global and mall owners Simon, Brookfield, and Centennial, has acquired Express for $174M and Bonobos for $75M. Will 2024 be the year we see more brand acquisitions after bankruptcy?

Retail Dive: Express, Bonobos bought out of bankruptcy for $174M

Rick Watson

Rick Watson founded RMW Commerce Consulting after spending 20+ years as a technology entrepreneur and operator exclusively in the eCommerce industry with companies like ChannelAdvisor, BarnesandNoble.com, Merchantry, and Pitney Bowes.

Watson’s work today is centered on supporting investors and management teams incubating and growing direct-to-consumer businesses. Most recently, in partnership with WHP Global, Rick was a critical resource in architecting the WHP+ platform, a new turnkey direct to consumer digital e-commerce platform that powers AnneKlein.com and JosephAbboud.com.

Watson also hosts a weekly podcast, Watson Weekly, where he shares an unbiased, unfiltered expert take on the retail sector’s biggest players.

In the past year alone, Rick has spoken at many in-person and virtual events as well as podcasts on topics ranging from retail/ecom to supply chain/logistics and even digital grocery including CommerceNext IRL, ASCM Connect, and Retail Innovation Conference.

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/
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