As retailers recalibrate in response to softening consumer demand and international trade disruption, the closeout and liquidation market is seeing a sharp surge. February 2025 has already marked a pivotal turning point for the industry.
This month, multiple national chains — including Joann Fabrics and Bargain Hunt — announced sweeping store closures, prompting a cascade of excess inventory across apparel, home goods, and seasonal categories.
Simultaneously, new tariff measures introduced in early February have raised costs on imported goods, prompting U.S. manufacturers to reassess their stock positions and clear warehouse space faster than planned.
“Manufacturers and retailers are facing mounting pressure to offload excess inventory quickly,” said
Paul Work, President and CEO of Chepstow Corporation. “Our full-lot liquidation model allows us to purchase entire inventories, providing immediate relief to businesses looking to streamline operations amid economic uncertainty.”
Chepstow’s approach — buying entire inventories rather than cherry-picking profitable SKUs — provides a level of speed and certainty that many suppliers now depend on. The company has also seen a notable uptick in inbound inventory from international trade channels, fueled in part by its
new partnership with Ameritrade Corporate Holdings, a Boston-based export management firm representing more than 15 U.S. manufacturers across 35 countries.
Through the alliance, Chepstow now has access to select volumes of
obsolete or export-declined goods, which it places into its North American resale network. That network includes thousands of independent and off-price retailers throughout the U.S. and Canada — many of which are currently ramping up value-driven buying to match consumer spending trends.
“Agility is everything right now,” added Work. “We’ve built Chepstow to be fast, frictionless, and fully accountable. That’s what our partners — from family-owned brands to global trade firms — need in this environment.”
Retailers are increasingly turning to secondary channels for inventory that’s not only affordable but flexible — and that’s creating ripple effects upstream. As brands seek to reduce carrying costs and avoid deep markdowns, liquidation is becoming more of a strategic lever than a last resort.
Chepstow expects these conditions to persist through Q2, as more manufacturers look for partners who can move product quickly, discreetly, and at scale.
About Chepstow Corporation
Chepstow Corporation is a Delaware-based leader in the liquidation and surplus inventory sector. Specializing in full-lot acquisition and rapid redistribution, Chepstow serves food and non-food manufacturers and supplies tens of thousands of retailers across the U.S. and Canada with high-quality, value-driven goods.
Media Contact:
Michael Miller, Media Relations
mike.miller@chepstowcorp.com
Tel: 302-793-9090
