OMG, Kitty. It’s true…
8 am. Friday morning.
Cynthia staggers out of bed in search of coffee.
She happens upon Marcy who is full on hissing at the computer.
Cynthia (startled): OMG… what?!
Marcy: Hisssssssssss. Hisssssssssss. Hisssssssssss.
Cynthia (scared): What?! What’s happening?!
Marcy: Walmart is buying ModCloth.
Cynthia: Gasp. No way.
Marcy: Way. Hissssssssss. Hisssssssss. Hissssssss.
Cynthia checks Marcy’s info on the website and then stumbles out to the doorstep to get the LATimes.
She frantically scans the business pages.
She finds it.
She looks up.
Cynthia (horrified): OMG. Walmart is buying ModCloth!
Marcy hisses.
Cynthia screams.
Penelope Kitten passes out.
To be continued…
=^..^=
Quick Update. Sunday, March 19, 2017.
- Walmart/Jet.com bought ModCloth for about $50 million.
- Apparently, ModCloth has been losing money since 2015 and has had 6 rounds of layoffs in the past two years.
- ModCloth’s founder, Susan Gregg Koger, sent out a letter via email, the ModCloth blog, and Instagram explaining that the reason for the “sell-out” was indeed their lack of profitability and that the infusion of funds from Walmart will help get the company back on track. She portrayed herself as sad but hopeful.
- As of this past Friday, all ModCloth employee checks are signed from Walmart. The employees found out about the acquisition this past Wednesday. They were surprised.
- The reaction from customers has been swift. And, it is severe. Koger’s IG post has almost 1500 negative comments. Customers are deleting their ModCloth accounts, wishlists, email subscriptions, and follows on social media. Bloggers are abandoning their ModCLoth affiliate programs and listing alternative stores to shop.
- In an unrelated, yet strangely symbolic event, ModCloth’s pug mascot, Winston, died last month.
Stay tuned! We will have more on… all of this… and our own list of wonderful companies to purchase cat products from this week.
xo and meow, marcy + cynthia
12 Comments
To be continued??? Marcy, Cynthia, PK, you’re leaving us hanging?? Pleeeeeze…we need the rest of the story!
We don’t know the rest of the story yet. The story is still developing. This is new news!
xo and meow,
cynthia + marcy
Oh, hell no!!!
(Hell No Kitty!)
I LIKE(d) ModCloth. I got a cool coat there. They have vintage-y looking stuff.
Booooooooooo
hisssssss
meow (hissssss), marcy
Wow! This seems like a terrible idea!
terrible. hisssssssesssss
meow (hisssssss),marcy
Oh. MY. GAWD!! I now feel guilty about buying a T-shirt from them last week. Wallmart is basically Satan in the form of a chainstore, isn’t it. My immediate reaction was, “I will NEVER shop from them again!” and I’ve only bought like, three things from Modcloth, ever. It looks like they basically committed brand suicide here, from what you’re telling us. SO sad, looks like it’s just a matter of time before Modcloth disappears altogether. 🙁
Yes – at the moment it does look like brand suicide. Looks like I am going to abandon my affiliation with them. It’s really too bad since they were so sweet to me as one of their affiliates – especially during CatCon. Walmart really is Satan. They pay such low wages that their employees are on food stamps. Plus, a ton of other stuff that makes them evil.
Don’t worry about getting your tee! Especially since this JUST happened.
xo,cynthia
You know what, I think you are 100% doing the right thing if you end your affiliation. We all have to follow our moral compass.
Thanks, Gwen! I think I am going to take down my sidebar ad right now.
With Winston, so went the heart and soul of the brand? Strangely symbolic, indeed! The backlash has been severe, and it’ll be interesting to see what happens over the coming months. Modcloth’s mission just doesn’t align with Walmart’s ethics. Modcloth shoppers had really passionate, loyal customers, and that’s something larger corporate retailers just don’t inspire. It’s too bad, but I’m curious to see how things evolve. Modcloth curated such a cheery and whimsical collection of products.
Liz
http://www.withwonderandwhimsy.com
I’m curious too! I have no idea how this will unfold. Just fascinating!
xo,cynthia