Latest news with #DavidBridal
New York Times
22-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
When Trade Wars Crash the Wedding
Brides have a lot to juggle when planning their weddings. Now, add tariffs to the list. When President Trump imposed steep tariffs on China and other countries, couples quickly realized that geopolitics could blow up their budgets for the big day. Everything from flowers to linens to catering might get more expensive. And that includes the wedding gown. About 90 percent of wedding dresses sold in the United States are made in China, according to the National Bridal Retailers Association. Distressed brides are on TikTok, sharing budgeting advice. As one of the millions of Americans currently planning a wedding — an estimated two million ceremonies are expected to take place this year — I watch at least a dozen of these videos a day. Kelly Cook is watching, too. In April, she became the chief executive of David's Bridal, the largest wedding dress retailer in the United States. The company, which says it sells one in three wedding dresses in America, relies heavily on workers in China to produce its gowns, which typically sell for $700 to $800. Ms. Cook, who was previously president of brand, technology and finance at the company, has recently shifted dress production to countries throughout Southeast Asia. By this summer, none of its dresses will be made in China, down from two-thirds at the end of last year. But that won't necessarily spare the company from tariffs, given the global scope of Mr. Trump's levies. It's just the latest challenge for David's Bridal, which tipped into bankruptcy twice in five years, most recently in 2023. The company has nearly 200 stores across the United States and Canada and about 5,000 employees. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
You Can Now DoorDash a Wedding Dress. Yes, You Read That Right
Last-minute brides can now get a wedding dress delivered right to their door in under an hour, thanks to an exciting partnership David's Bridal recently confirmed it was teaming up with DoorDash to allow those planning to tie the knot the ability to order dresses, accessories and more "David's takes the stress away so you can focus on celebrating and feeling beautiful and confident for any special occasion," the company's CEO, Kelly Cook, said in a previous press releaseDavid's Bridal has a new service for brides who might need a wedding dress — fast. The 75-year-old bridal boutique recently announced it was teaming up with DoorDash to provide brides-to-be the option to get a wedding dress delivered to their door in under an hour from its 180 locations nationwide. Since the launch with DoorDash, David's Bridal has made over 2,000 deliveries with delivery under an hour, with the majority of orders coming from Las Vegas. This marks the first time DoorDash, which is the largest food delivery platform in the U.S., has branched out into the wedding and special occasion category, a previous press release stated. Customers "will have quick and easy access to everything they need with a few taps of a button, to make every occasion special, take the stress out of the wedding and event planning process or solve last-minute snafus," the release added. Kelly Cook, CEO of David's Bridal, said, "We are thrilled to partner with DoorDash. When we tested the partnership in the market, customer feedback was fantastic! Our 'Anywhere Commerce' strategy means just that - anywhere she wants it. 'I can't believe it, how fun?!' was our favorite customer quote," per the previous release. "We're already seeing dresses, accessories and intimates as the top David's product categories being shopped through DoorDash," Cook said in December. "Whether you prefer the convenience of doorstep delivery to help save time during the planning process, need a perfect dress for a last-minute holiday party invite, a save-the-day solution to a suddenly stained bridesmaid dress on the big day or a fabulous pair of 'party-all-night' shoes - David's takes the stress away so you can focus on celebrating and feeling beautiful and confident for any special occasion," she added. Cook told CBS MoneyWatch this month that approximately 17 percent of David's brides are looking for dresses for weddings that are less than three weeks away. "So we have to serve the last-minute brides," Cook said, per the outlet. It's been an exciting few months for David's Bridal, as the company just opened a "new boutique bridal experience" store called Diamonds & Pearls in Delray Beach, Florida. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. According to a press release: "With bespoke styling appointments with David's expert Personal Stylists, exclusive in-store product offerings, and thoughtfully designed interiors, this location further reflects David's commitment to showcasing exceptional artistry and craftsmanship, extending from its carefully curated collection of bridal attire to every detail in the thoughtfully designed interior space, unlike anything David's has done before." The launch comes just over two years after David's Bridal announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2023. It was acquired by CION Investment Corporation in July of that year, Forbes previously reported. Read the original article on People
