Dressbarn, a women's fashion retailer known for its physical stores, discontinued its brick-and-mortar locations starting in 2019 due to unprofitability, but was later relaunched by Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV) as an online-only retailer in 2020, focusing on value-priced workwear, casual wear, and accessories, with significant online growth.

Closure of Physical Stores (2019)

Reason: Parent company Ascena Retail Group closed all ~650 Dressbarn stores as the chain wasn't profitable enough in the changing retail landscape, losing customers to competitors like TJ Maxx, Target, and online fast-fashion.

Process: Liquidation sales began in late 2019, with the e-commerce site remaining open temporarily to accept gift cards.

Relaunch as Online-Only (2020)

New Ownership: Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV) purchased the brand and relaunched it as an online-only business in January 2020.

Focus: The new Dressbarn emphasizes online sales of workwear, dresses, and accessories, targeting its traditional customer base but in a digital format.

Success: The online model proved successful, with significant growth in customers and revenue, benefiting from increased e-commerce adoption during the pandemic, according to the company.