Herschel Supply undergoes layoffs as result of COVID-19

Credit: Britney Gill Photography

The retailer has reportedly been hit hard by the pandemic

After months of dealing with reduced margins thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, retailer Herschel Supply Co. was forced to reduce staff on June 9.

Although the company wouldn’t comment on specifics, a source close to the matter told BCBusiness that 79 people in total (including about 30 from its Vancouver headquarters) were permanently laid off, accounting for close to 25 percent of Herschel’s workforce.

The backpack maker also reportedly discontinued its Parkland brand, which designed bags and accessories from recycled water bottles. Customers can still buy Parkland products online, but Herschel won’t be releasing any new items from that line.

The company gave the following statement:

“The pandemic situation has greatly affected the retail sector and, consequently, Herschel Supply’s business. As the market changed, it was clear that we needed to adapt to continue to deliver on our commitments to our passionate consumers and key stakeholders.

“On June 9, we made the extremely difficult decision to reduce the size of our team to streamline our organization and focus resources on core operations. We want to thank everyone who was impacted for their contribution to Herschel Supply and support them as much as we can through this transition.”