Toronto store closing permanently after just a year in business
Vancouver-based brand Understance is closing its brick-and-mortar presence in Toronto and two other Canadian cities.
Understance, a brand specializing in female intimate apparel, took to Instagram to announce the impending closures, saying, "After years of fitting and serving you in person, our retail stores in Vancouver (Robson St.), Calgary, and Toronto will be closing permanently on December 1."
Although no further information or details about the closure have been disclosed, the announcement went on to thank customers for the support Understance has received from these communities. It also confirmed that inventory is limited, but noted that shoppers can continue to shop and get fitted for bras while supplies last.
This announcement may come as a surprise to Toronto residents who shop at Understance, as the storefront opened on Nov. 19, 2024, just over a year ago.
The owners did make it clear that this decision does not impact their online operations, but something seems amiss to customers who have picked up on clues suggesting the brand may be going out of business completely.
In September, Understance announced an online clearance sale that garnered a strong response from shoppers. The team took to Instagram on Nov. 4 to acknowledge the sale's overwhelming success and mentioned, "Once these items are sold out, they won't be available again." This detail prompted customer responses, with one wondering whether the company was completely going out of business.
Understance's reply to this comment added more fuel to the fire, as they said, "We're clearing out inventory as instructed by management. We don't know what the future holds, but there are no new restocks or styles coming."
Photo via Understance.
It feels like a lot is in limbo with the brand right now. blogTO reached out for more details on the closure, but Understance did not provide an immediate response.
Understance joins a growing list of local businesses that have experienced the same fate, with reasons ranging from a decline in customers to factors like redevelopment and the rising cost of maintaining a physical location in the city.
Understance is located at 2334 Bloor St. W.
Understance
