I LOVE how news bubbles up on social media, it’s kind of an obsession…in a good way, for research and stuff ;)

The latest pop on my FB feed came swiftly and the target was the velour track suit set that graced our city streets in the early 2000's. You know what I’m talking about…Juicy Couture! Started in the late 90's, on a shoestring and a prayer the brand was sold to Liz Claiborne in 2003, just as celebrities were quickly helping to make the bedazzled look desirable (again). Juicy Couture stores began opening -by 2006 there we 16 in the U.S., and now almost 12 years later they have over 100 stores. Or rather…had.

By the beginning of July, all of their brick and mortar locations in the U.S. will close. Am I a fan of their clothing? Not really my style — even though it’s so very comfy. The clothing or is not to blame though. It was just a matter of operations. Sometimes you have to make adjustments to survive.

In Spring 2003 a petition was started on RetailACTIONProject.org urging Juicy Couture to stop cutting employee hours and benefits at the flagship store in New York City. Even if the whole world signed this petition though, it was already a done deal. Reported since Fall 2013, the Juicy Couture brand had been sold to another retailer, and are moving in a completely new distribution direction. The employees never had a chance.

I had not heard about Juicy Couture shutting down retail operations until today. To get the story tending it took an #RIP and a word that leaves a taste in my brain so bad I cant get it out of my fingers. A week after the announcement many social followers are still asking if it is true. The writing has been on the (Google) wall for over a year. In business and real estate news, activism and local TV. Yet it didn’t pop until now.

RANDOM SIDE THOUGHT: So what does this mean to those of us who are not connected to the company professionally, and who do not buy the clothing? Probably not much. Maybe everything. I know in my hometown of New York City approximately 100 people are unemployed right now because of this. I hope it is less; that most were able to move on to something better. I hope. Could 100 people becoming unemployed in one day really affect a city of 8 million? Maybe the change will create more opportunities for new employment when Kohl’s begins carrying the brand(yep). Wait, where is the nearest Kohl’s to the 5th Ave location in New York City? New Jersey and Queens.