Outdoor Voices to Close All Retail Stores and Move Online Amidst Layoffs for Employees

Austin, Texas United States of America
Outdoor Voices is closing all retail stores nationwide on Sunday.
The company plans to move completely online.
Outdoor Voices to Close All Retail Stores and Move Online Amidst Layoffs for Employees

Outdoor Voices, an athleisure brand that was valued at $110 million in 2018 and dropped to $40 million by 2020, is closing all of its retail stores nationwide on Sunday. The company plans to move completely online. Retail employees were alerted of their imminent layoffs through Slack on Wednesday.



Confidence

90%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

87%

  • Unique Points
    • Outdoor Voices is closing all its retail locations on Sunday.
    • The brand took a big bet with prime locations in many of the country's fastest-growing cities, but the storefronts were short-lived.
  • Accuracy
    • Outdoor Voices is closing the doors of all 16 stores nationwide.
    • The company plans to move completely online.
    • Retail employees were alerted of their imminent layoffs through Slack on Wednesday.
  • Deception (80%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that Outdoor Voices has gone completely online when it hasn't. The company plans to close all its stores but still have an online presence. Secondly, the author quotes two employees who say they were not offered severance and one of them says an offer to keep working until the end of the week for $500 felt like a slap in the face. This implies that Outdoor Voices is treating its employees poorly which may be misleading to readers. Lastly, there are no sources disclosed in this article.
    • The title implies that Outdoor Voices has gone completely online when it hasn't.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

73%

  • Unique Points
    • , The company was valued at $110 million in 2018 and dropped to $40 million by 2020.
    • The brand took a big bet with prime locations in many of the country's fastest-growing cities, but the storefronts were short-lived.
  • Accuracy
    • Outdoor Voices is closing all its retail locations on Sunday.
    • The company plans to move completely online.
    • Retail employees were alerted of their imminent layoffs through Slack on Wednesday.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive because it does not provide any evidence or sources for the claim that Outdoor Voices is closing all its stores. The author relies on anonymous employees and internal messages to create a sense of urgency and surprise, but these are not verified by any official statement from the company or any other reliable source. The article also omits important details about the reasons behind the store closures, such as financial troubles, disagreements between executives, or changes in market demand. By using sensational language like “closing all its stores” and “Outdoor Voices is embarking on a new chapter”, the author manipulates the reader's emotions and creates a false impression of what is happening. The article also fails to disclose any potential conflicts of interest or biases that may influence its reporting, such as the involvement of Mickey Drexler or other investors who may have interests in different retail strategies.
    • The article does not provide any sources for its claims about Outdoor Voices' history, culture, or values. The author relies on anecdotal evidence from anonymous employees who may have personal biases or agendas that are not disclosed. The author also uses vague and subjective terms like “chic”, “devotees”, and “#DoingThings” without citing any sources or data to back them up. This is deceptive because it creates a false impression of the company's identity and appeal that may not reflect reality.
    • The article does not report on any of the challenges that Outdoor Voices faced in recent years, such as declining valuation, executive turnover, or changing consumer preferences. The author only mentions a single product launch (the exercise dress) and implies that it was successful without providing any data or context to support this claim. This is deceptive because it creates an impression of growth and innovation when in fact the company may have struggled to maintain its relevance and appeal.
    • The article does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest or biases that may influence its reporting, such as the involvement of Mickey Drexler or other investors who may have interests in different retail strategies. The author also does not acknowledge any limitations or uncertainties in its sources, methods, or conclusions. This is deceptive because it undermines the credibility and reliability of the article's information and analysis.
    • The article uses advertisements like Skip Advertisement to interrupt its flow and generate revenue, but does not provide any disclosure or transparency about their nature, purpose, or impact on the reader's experience. The author also does not evaluate or critique the ads for their relevance, accuracy, or ethics.
    • The article uses awards like Best Athleisure Brand 2019 to boost its reputation and sales, but does not provide any criteria or judges for them. The author also does not compare Outdoor Voices with other similar brands in terms of their performance, quality, or value.
    • The article uses collaborations like the one between Outdoor Voices and Nike to leverage its brand equity and innovation, but does not provide any examples or results for them. The author also does not examine how they use collaborations to create differentiation, competition, or cooperation with their competitors.
    • The article uses donations like the one made by Outdoor Voices to Black Lives Matter to enhance its social responsibility and impact, but does not provide any amounts or outcomes for them. The author also does not discuss how they use donations to demonstrate their values, commitments, or actions on important issues.
    • The article uses events like group exercise classes and editorial platforms like The Recreationalist to create a lifestyle around its products, but does not provide any details or examples of them. The author also does not explain how they measure their success or impact on the readers' behavior, preferences, or values.
    • The article uses events like the launch of the exercise dress by Outdoor Voices to generate excitement and demand for its products, but does not provide any feedback or reviews for them. The author also does not compare the exercise dress with other similar products in terms of their features, benefits, or drawbacks.
    • The article uses hashtags like #DoingThings and #OutdoorVoices to promote its brand and products, but does not disclose any sponsorship or endorsement agreements with the author, the site, or any other sources. The author also does not indicate whether they have any personal or professional ties to Outdoor Voices that may influence their reporting. This is deceptive because it creates a false impression of independence and impartiality.
    • The article uses images like Sarah Karlan for The New York Times to illustrate its content, but does not provide any captions, credits, or sources for the photos. The author also does not explain how the images relate to the main topic or support the claims of the article. This is deceptive because it creates a false impression of quality and authority.
    • The article uses influencers like Ty Haney and Mickey Drexler to endorse its brand and products, but does not provide any evidence or sources for their claims or testimonials. The author also does not examine how they use influencers to create a false impression of popularity, credibility, or authority.
    • The article uses partnerships like the one between Outdoor Voices and Gap to expand its distribution and reach, but does not provide any details or benefits for them. The author also does not evaluate how they use partnerships to create synergies, opportunities, or challenges for their business models, strategies, or markets.
    • The article uses sensational language like “closing all its stores” and “Outdoor Voices is embarking on a new chapter” to attract attention and generate clicks, but does not provide any context or explanation for the store closures. The author also uses emotive language like “surprised” and “Skip Advertisement” to manipulate the reader's feelings and create a false sense of urgency.
    • The article uses social media platforms like Instagram to promote its brand and products, but does not provide any links or references to them. The author also does not discuss how they use social media to engage with their audience, build trust and loyalty, or generate feedback and insights.
    • The author claims that Outdoor Voices had attempted to package its athleisure as part of an overall lifestyle, but does not provide any examples or evidence to support this assertion. This is a deceptive practice because it implies that the company's main goal was not selling clothes, but creating a brand identity and customer loyalty based on shared values and experiences. The author also uses vague terms like “lifestyle” and “devotees” without defining them or explaining how they relate to the company's products, marketing, or customer base.
    • The article does not mention any alternative explanations for the store closures, such as cost-cutting measures, strategic repositioning, or expansion into new markets. The author also does not compare Outdoor Voices with other similar brands in terms of their performance, challenges, or opportunities. This is deceptive because it leaves out important information that would help the reader understand the broader context and implications of the company's decision.
    • The article does not provide any contact information or links for the company, its executives, or its investors. The author also does not invite any feedback, questions, or comments from the readers. This is deceptive because it prevents the readers from verifying or challenging the article's claims and perspectives.
  • Fallacies (80%)
    The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the New York Times as a source of information. Additionally, the author presents a dichotomous depiction of Outdoor Voices' success and failure by stating that it was valued at $110 million in 2018 but dropped to $40 million in 2020. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric when describing the store closures as a
    • The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the New York Times as a source of information.
    • <p>In an internal Slack message reviewed by The New York Times, some employees were notified on Wednesday that <strong>Outdoor Voices is embarking on a new chapter as we transition to an exclusively online business.</strong></p>
  • Bias (85%)
    The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes the employees by referring to them as 'surprised' when they were notified about store closures without being given severance. Additionally, the company is transitioning to an exclusively online business which may be seen as a way for Outdoor Voices to cut costs and increase profits.
    • The news came as a surprise, two of the employees said, adding that they were not offered severance.
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication

    78%

    • Unique Points
      • Outdoor Voices is shuttering retail stores nationwide and moving online.
      • The brand took a big bet with prime locations in many of the country's fastest-growing cities, but the storefronts were short-lived.
      • Current and former Outdoor Voices employees at stores in Austin, Denver, Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, Houston and San Diego told Axios reporters that their stores would shutter by Sunday.
      • Outdoor Voices did not return Axios' requests for comment.
    • Accuracy
      No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
    • Deception (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Fallacies (70%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Bias (80%)
      The article is biased towards the closure of Outdoor Voices retail stores. The author uses language that portrays the company's decision to close as a failure and implies that it was not long for this world. Additionally, the author quotes former employees who are upset about their layoffs and lack of severance pay, which further reinforces the negative tone towards Outdoor Voices.
      • An internal message obtained by Axios told retail employees that Outdoor Voices is embarking on a new chapter as we transition to an exclusively online business.
        • One Austin employee who worked on the company's marketing team said they and other employees were suddenly laid off in brief meetings Tuesday.
          • Outdoor Voices took a big bet with prime locations in many of the country's fastest-growing cities, but the storefronts were short-lived
            • The storefronts were short-lived
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication

            68%

            Voices Over

            Puck News Lauren Sherman Thursday, 14 March 2024 20:27
            • Unique Points
              • Outdoor Voices is an indie millennial athleisure brand
              • The company plans to move completely online.
              • Retail employees were alerted of their imminent layoffs through Slack on Wednesday.
            • Accuracy
              • Outdoor Voices is closing the doors of all 16 stores nationwide.
            • Deception (30%)
              The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that they have been covering Outdoor Voices for years when it's clear from their previous articles that this is not true. Secondly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'implosion', 'bailout', and 'demise' to create a false sense of urgency and importance around the brand. Thirdly, the article implies that Outdoor Voices was generating more than $60 million in net sales under Gabrielle Conforti when it is unclear if this information is accurate or up-to-date.
              • The article implies that Outdoor Voices was generating more than $60 million in net sales under Gabrielle Conforti when it is unclear if this information is accurate or up-to-date.
              • The article uses sensationalist language such as 'implosion', 'bailout', and 'demise' to create a false sense of urgency and importance around the brand.
              • The author claims to have been covering Outdoor Voices for years but their previous articles suggest otherwise.
            • Fallacies (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Bias (75%)
              The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that depicts the brand as being associated with a specific religion.
              • > Just when I think I’m out, Outdoor Voices pulls me back in.
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                The article reports on the financial postmortem of Outdoor Voices, an athleisure brand that imploded and received a bailout after failing to meet its sales targets. The author cites sources from Oakwell Capital Partners, which invested in the company as part of the rescue deal. However, he does not disclose his own financial ties or professional affiliations with any of the parties involved in the story. He also fails to mention that Ashley Merrill, the founder and CEO of Outdoor Voices, is a member of The ClassPass Board of Directors. This could create a conflict of interest as she may have access to confidential information about The ClassPass's own performance and strategy in the fitness industry.
                • Outdoor Voices raised $60 million in net sales from investors, including Oakwell Capital Partners, which later stepped in with a bailout after the company imploded. (financial ties)
                  • The author cites sources from Oakwell Capital Partners without disclosing his own financial ties or professional affiliations with any of the parties involved in the story. This could compromise his objectivity and impartiality. (conflicts not disclosed)
                  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication