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Pirch (company)

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Pirch (company), available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 9 August 202512 sources


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Pirch
Company typePrivate
IndustryRetail
Founded2009; 17 years ago (2009)
San Diego, California
FounderJeffrey Sears
DefunctTemplate:End date and age
HeadquartersSan Diego, California
Number of locations
7 (prior to closure)
Area served
Southern California, United States
Key people
  • Steve Smith (PIRCH CEO)
ProductsAppliances
RevenueIncrease US$150 Million
OwnerL Catterton
Number of employees
450
Websitepirch.com

Pirch (presented as PIRCH) operated as a retailer specializing in kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor appliances, headquartered in San Diego, California. Established in 2009, the brand grew to serve ten major metropolitan areas across the United States before retracting to only four California locations by 2017.[1] The retail outlets were designed as interactive showrooms where customers could experience appliances and bathroom fixtures firsthand, simulating their use at home, with guidance from knowledgeable sales staff.[2]

History

Originating in San Diego in 2009, Pirch was created by entrepreneurs including Phil Roxworthy, James Fikes, and Tom Cavallo, operating under the entity Rox Design DBA Fixtures Kitchen Bath Outdoor.[3]

On February 26, 2013, the private equity firm L Catterton revealed its minority investment stake in Pirch.[4]

By September 2017, Pirch announced a strategic shift that involved shuttering all stores outside California.[1]

Closure and controversies

In March 2024, Pirch declared a suspension of operations indefinitely. Consequently, its six remaining California showrooms and distribution hubs were temporarily closed. This development caused unease among customers who feared the company might be ceasing operations permanently and possibly preparing for bankruptcy proceedings.[5][6]

On March 28, 2024, multiple parties filed lawsuits against Pirch demanding up to $5 million for unpaid rent and inventory related to its closed retail locations.[7] On April 12, 2024, reports indicated that Pirch submitted layoff notices affecting approximately forty employees at its Westfield UTC, Mission Viejo, and Laguna Niguel outlets.[8]

On April 15, 2024, customer Marshall Krupp announced plans to request fraud investigations from prosecutors in San Diego and Orange County concerning Pirch’s closure. Krupp reported losses totaling $46,373 for kitchen appliances purchased between August 2022 and January 2023.[9]

On April 17, 2024, both Worldpay and American Express initiated legal action against Pirch for a combined sum of $43 million concerning disputed customer transactions.[10] Two days later on April 19, Pirch declared its permanent closure after fourteen years in business. The previously temporary suspension of store operations was confirmed as final with no plans to reopen.[11] Subsequently on April 22, Pirch filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation listing liabilities between $100 million and $500 million alongside assets estimated at $10 million to $50 million.[12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rupp, Lindsey (September 12, 2017). "Pirch, a Chain Lauded as a Retail Savior, Will Shut Most Stores". Bloomberg.
  2. ↑ "Pirch: Would you like a shower with that oven?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Sec Form D".
  4. ↑ "Catterton-Backed Fixtures Living Changes Name to PIRCH". Wall Street Journal. 12 July 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  5. ↑ "PIRCH, luxury home appliance merchant in Southern California, abruptly closes 6 stores". The Orange County Register. March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Pirch shutdowns raise bankruptcy concerns". FOX 11. March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Pirch, luxury kitchen retailer, is sued for unpaid rent and inventory totaling $5 million". San Diego Union Tribune. March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Pirch files layoff notice after abruptly closing stores and ghosting customers". Orange County Register. April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Pirch customer seeking fraud investigation after abrupt closure". FOX 5 San Diego. April 15, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  10. ↑ "American Express sues Pirch for $33 million". Business of Home. April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Pirch permanently shuts down after years of operation". Yahoo Finance. April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Pirch luxury appliance retailer files for bankruptcy protection". The Orange County Register. April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.

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