Bose will shutter its retail stores in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia

Bose will be closing all its retail stores in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia because of the focus on e-commerce in these regions. Hundreds of employees will be laid off as a result, but the privately held company isn't revealing how many workers will be affected by the decision. Bose said it will offer outplacement assistance and severance to the employees that are being laid off.

The company opened its first physical retail store in 1993 and currently has locations in many shopping centres and malls in those markets. The stores showcase the company's product lineup, which has grown beyond Bose's signature noise-cancelling headphones in recent years. Bose said it will be closing 119 retail stores over the "next few months."

According to a Bose spokesperson, Bose stores will remain open in other parts of the world. These include around 130 stores in "Greater China and the United Arab Emirates; and additional stores in India, Southeast Asia, and South Korea."

Bose products are carried at major third-party retailer sites as well as its website.

Source: The Verge