Bankrupt - Bed Bath & Beyond

For nearly 50 years, Bed Bath and Beyond was at the top of their game, known across the industry as a "category killer", able to stand up to the largest companies in America like Walmart and Target just by their niche in the market. Millions of deal-hungry shoppers, wedding registries and college young adults shopped here and helped skyrocket the company into massive success with over 1,500 stores. But just as quickly as their rise, the retailer then fell on hard times. In under a decade, the company went from record sales, to bankruptcy and a total collapse of the brand. Join me today as I explore why this happened and document the final moments for a beloved retailer.

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BrightSunFilms 2023

Presented in 4K

[CapTeaTime]

I remember when I moved into my first apartment and thought "Why not hit up Bed Bath & Beyond?" When I saw the prices I walked right out and never went back. Like Jake said, everything they had you can find elsewhere for a better price.

[FountainChannel]

Every time I think “how will Jake keep this series going, he’s covered so much already” another big chain goes out of business, double edged sword I guess 😂

[nickwinn]

Bed Bath & Beyond is beyond expensive, even after the 20% going out of business discount, things there were still more expensive than I could buy it online.

[IsomerMashups]

I went to the BBB liquidation in my local store, and the prices were _still_ too high for me to consider buying _anything._

[chibikim]

I went to a BBB a few years back for a muffin tin. The minute I went in, I was overwhelmed with all the crap they had on the wall. They made looking for one simple item feel like a chore. Stuff stacked so high. Their prices were insane for what I could get for less at Target, Walmart, Amazon, or a resale store.

[amberreed]

I decorated my first apartment entirely for like 100 bucks because of Linen and Things shutting down and I just stocked up my first house for like 100 bucks because of Bed, Bath, and Beyond shutting down. Time is truly a circle.

[Richaag]

I remember going into a BB&B in 2009 and thinking “This is the same stuff they sell at Walmart only it’s marked way up”. Those 20% coupons they always sent out did little more than put their prices in the same ballpark as big box stores.

[wdh]

I feel for all the employees that are going to lose their jobs. Not only at the retail locations but call centers and distribution centers as well.

[mjfromjersey]

the problem I always had with bed bath and beyond is that it was target quality stuff for Williams and Sonoma prices. You were paying as much, if not more, money for inferior products

[SillardPGillard]

Ex BBB employee here. Gonna spill some tea, it's not like they can sue me lol. Brother and sister worked for the company before I did, and then after I left, my boyfriend worked there, so bed bath and beyond has been a vital part of my life for a while.
It's totally wild how much it had changed from when I had first started, to when I left. Promotions were often insinuated and dangled like a carrot. When positions 'opened up' the company randomly decided that we 'didn't need those positions anymore', even though they were 2 keyholder/management positions, that left at the same time.
Safety was obviously not a priority there. For the 5 years I worked there, I had BEGGED them to get our balleymore ladders (the stair ones pictured in the video), fixed because they were so wobbley, that you couldn't stand on it without it swaying. Not to mention them wanting you to put product over 50lbs on shelves above your head. Don't even get me started on how we were treated by customers lmao.

[DoItYourselfRC]

Imagine being at work one day and then BAM Jake makes an episode of Bankrupt on the company you work for.

[thumperpaul]

My wife used to drag me to these stores ( there were two in our area), and I was always shocked at the high prices that they were asking for ordinary household items. I would always find the same stuff on Amazon for a lot cheaper, but she liked “ to browse “. I’m not surprised that they went tits up, to be honest….

[ACoolKidsProduction]

One thing no one seems to have touched on was that in their "junky" phase before the new people took control is how they had small video screens all over the store that loudly repeated ads for products nearby on an infinite loop. It was SO irritating that I was practically begging my wife to make a decision on what to buy/not buy and get out of that store before I lost my mind to an unending ad for Poo Pourri.

[JonathonV]

You mentioned that the CEOs were frugal. One of the ways they saved money was storing their products on the sales floor. Those massive banner boards covered up all their extra stock, so that every square foot of store space was used for sales floor. That’s why at their peak their price per square foot was so high. It’s a genius plan if it works.

[jmlkinc]

Imagine what they could have done with $11 BILLION if they didn't waste it on stock buybacks. Absolute insanity.

[blastonightfbryan]

There’s not been many companies that have gone bankrupt as of late that have actually hurt. But this one does, Bed Bath and Beyond had absolutely top notch blankets, I remember one of my cats absolutely adored one of the blanket we got until his death in 2021. Gonna miss Bed Bath and Beyond a lot, thanks for the memories.

[WeSRT]

The specialty retailer model is broken. The only retailers that I consider safe are grocery stores, Walmart, Home Depot and Lowes. Beyond that everyone else is in trouble!

[DestroyerX]

The funny thing is that I didn't even realize Bed Bath and Beyond was actually going bankrupt because our store in my area are just there just living it large.

[owenfoster]

My dad worked for the company from age 16-44, when he was laid off due to the pandemic. He went from being a part time floor worker to a district executive. He met my mom by working there and he had 2 kids while working there. I will always love this company as if it wasn’t for it I wouldn’t be writing this comment but it is just crazy to think back of all the memories of me begging my mom to take me to the store to see my dad. Good times

[Vub.]

I went into their store closing sale and the prices were still OUTRAGEOUS. No wonder they went bankrupt who would shop here in 2023.