Stitch Fix to cut workforce by 15% of salaried roles

(Reuters) -Stitch Fix Inc said on Thursday it is reducing its workforce by around 15% of salaried positions, as the online personalized styling service firm aims to return to profitability.

Decades-high inflation and the impact of the war in Ukraine have pressured Corporate America to consider laying off people or put a freeze on hiring.

The layoff at Stitch Fix accounts for nearly 4% of the roles, or around 330 positions in total, with most of them in its non-technology corporate and styling leadership roles, Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Spaulding said.

“(The decision) was one we needed to make to position ourselves for profitable growth … There will be tough choices along the way, and this is one of those,” Spaulding wrote in a message to Stitch Fix employees.

Stitch Fix expects to save $40 million to $60 million in costs in fiscal 2023 from the job cuts and other changes, while incurring charges of around $15 million to $20 million in the fourth quarter.

Shares, which closed more than 10% lower on Thursday, were down nearly 6% in extended trading after Stitch Fix reported revenue for the third quarter below expectations.

Stitch Fix also forecast net revenue between $485 million and $495 million for the fourth quarter, compared with estimates of $495.1 million, according to Refinitiv data.

(Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)