The North Face shuts down stores
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Outdoor retailer The North Face closed its global headquarters and more than 100 stores in the US and Canada on Monday, April 22, as part of its effort to make Earth Day a global holiday.
The store closures are the culmination of The North Face’s Explore Mode campaign, which saw the brand partner with musicians, artists and culinary influencers on pop-up events throughout the US.
The move follows a campaign launched four years ago by fellow US outdoor retailer REI to shut its stores and website on Black Friday and instead encourage customers to #optoutside.
Before closing its bricks-and-mortar stores in North America, The North Face switched them to Explore Mode, so customers could find resources to spend Earth “off the grid”, including an exploration kit filled with “analog gear to stay present and capture memories without the need for digital devices”.
“We believe that when people take time to appreciate the Earth, they feel more connected to it and are more likely to protect it,” Tim Bantle, global general manager of lifestyle at The North Face, said.
“Explore Mode urges us to unplug from our digital lives to connect in real life to the world, each other, and ourselves in the effort to move the world forward.”
Petition to make Earth Day global holiday
The North Face was one of 16 organisations, including global brands like Clif and S’Well, that launched a petition with Change.org earlier this month to make Earth Day a national holiday everywhere.
At the time of this writing, more than 128,600 people had signed the petition, which has a goal to reach 150,000.
Other retailers, such as Tapestry Inc, also took the opportunity of Earth Day to announce sustainability initiatives.
As part of its new corporate responsibility goals, the parent company of Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent, water usage by 10 per cent and waste in its North American corporate arm by 25 per cent and recycle 75 per cent of its packaging by 2025.
The company also aims to source 90 per cent of the leather it uses from eco-friendly tanneries and achieve 95 per cent traceability of its raw materials to ensure a transparent supply chain.
Questions & Answers
Q.What was the purpose of The North Face's store closures on Earth Day?
What was the purpose of The North Face's store closures on Earth Day?
The North Face closed its stores as part of its Explore Mode campaign, aiming to make Earth Day a global holiday and encourage people to appreciate the Earth by unplugging from digital lives.
Q.Which other companies partnered with The North Face on the petition to make Earth Day a global holiday?
Which other companies partnered with The North Face on the petition to make Earth Day a global holiday?
The North Face was one of 16 organisations that launched the petition, including global brands like Clif and S'Well. No other specific partners were mentioned in the article.
Q.How did The North Face prepare its North American stores before they closed for Earth Day?
How did The North Face prepare its North American stores before they closed for Earth Day?
Before closing, The North Face switched its bricks-and-mortar stores to Explore Mode, offering customers resources and an exploration kit with analog gear for spending Earth Day 'off the grid'.
Q.What sustainability goals has Tapestry Inc. Set for itself?
What sustainability goals has Tapestry Inc. Set for itself?
Tapestry Inc. Aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, water usage by 10%, and waste by 25% in its North American corporate arm by 2025. It also plans to recycle 75% of packaging, source 90% of leather from eco-friendly tanneries, and achieve 95% raw material traceability.
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