Another one bites the dust.
As reported by Yahoo Style, Spanish fashion retailer Mango will not be renewing its existing distribution agreement with department store chain J.C. Penney and will close all 450 of its branded MNG by Mango shop-in-shops next year.
The five-year deal, announced in August 2010, introduced the family-owned label to Penney customers online and in stores for the Fall ’10 season, as part of then-CEO Ron Johnson’s plan to start selling more on-trend styles and attract new shoppers.
“Contemporary apparel for women is our fastest-growing category and we believe the launch of MNG by Mango at J.C. Penney—with its standout shop-within-a-shop experience and constant flow of fresh new merchandise—will allow us to create a sense of discovery for our customers every time they shop, allowing us to grow our market share,” Liz Sweney, the department store’s executive vice president and senior general merchandise manager, said in a statement at the time.
However, just as Canadian fast-fashion retailer Joe Fresh parted ways with Penney earlier this year, Mango is choosing to focus on growing its own stores, located in more than 100 countries worldwide. In fact, a spokesperson told Yahoo Style that the shop-in-shops accounted for a mere 0.5 percent of the retailer’s sales globally.
Mango currently has seven stores in the U.S., including locations in New York and Miami, and it hopes to expand its presence here.
J.C. Penney, meanwhile, has zeroed in on growing its private-label brands, including a fast-fashion womenswear label called Belle + Sky, comprising such trendy threads as fringe-sleeve sweaters, faux-fur vests and perforated midi skirts priced from $14.99 to $59.99. Pieces from Mango’s MNG line, by comparison, retailed online Monday from $7.99 to $99.99.