Zulily going out of business, lays off 800-plus workers

The 2023 holiday season will be the last one to feature Zulily as a shopping option.

In a brief note on the front page of its e-commerce site, the digitally native specialty retailer which primarily serves the needs of moms announced that, “Final sale. All items must go. Place an order now, then additional orders ship free for the rest of the day.”

Product categories listed at the top of the site’s front page include clearance (up to 70% off) and ends soon. Interestingly, there is still a new today category, which includes several items marked “ship out quickly.” There is no information about the impending closure, including why it is shutting down or final operating date, on the site.

The going-out-of-business sale comes not long after Qurate Retail Group, which is made up of QVC, HSN, Ballard Designs, Frontgate, Garnet Hill and Grandin Road, sold Zulily to Los Angeles-based investment firm Regent for an undisclosed sum in late May 2023.

According to the Seattle Times, Zulily laid off more than 800 workers, including close to 300 in its Seattle headquarters, over the weekend. In addition, GeekWire reports that the company will shutter its corporate office in Seattle, as well as distribution facilities in McCarran, Nev., and Lockbourne, Ohio, with more than 500 employees from the two sites facing layoffs. 

Since being purchased by Regent in May 2023, Zulily has also laid off other employees, moved its corporate headquarters to a smaller building, and seen former CEO Terry Boyle depart. GeekWire also reports the company is facing at least two lawsuits over unpaid invoices from service providers and has received complaints from product vendors about not being paid for goods provided.

Prior to the Regent sale, Zulily shifted its focus from flash sales to virtual branded stores, everyday value, and exclusive daily deals in September 2022.

Zulily has not yet publicly commented on its apparent plans to go out of business.