U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs are taking a bite out of another business.
Orvis, the Vermont-based outdoor retailer that was founded in 1856, said it will close 31 full-price stores and five outlets by early 2026 and return to its roots as a fishing and hunting brand, eliminating much of its lifestyle apparel business.
In a statement, Simon Perkins, president, said: “Like many in retail, Orvis’ business model faced a sizable shift with the introduction of an unprecedented tariff landscape. For more than a century-and-a-half, we’ve been committed to being leaders in our space for customers and partners, beginning with our industry-leading fly rods still crafted in Vermont today. To ensure a durable brand and model for decades to come, we are focusing on our core strengths and making the difficult but necessary decision to rescale the business by tightening our assortment and reducing our corporate store footprint.”
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The company declined to say how many stores it operates, but it is believed to have more than 70 full-price retail locations and 10 outlets in the U.S. and Canada. It also has stores in the U.K. It declined to say which stores would be shuttered.
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Perkins clarified that Orvis is not completely exiting lifestyle apparel, but will offer “men’s and women’s apparel most adjacent to [fly fishing and bird hunting], and our core dog assortment. While much of our broader lifestyle apparel has served our customers well, some of it has moved away from the essence of who we are.
“We’re not stepping away from entire categories people love. What’s changing is the intent: more focus on product that connects directly to our pursuits like hard goods, technical clothing, sun protection, and performance-driven pieces. At the end of the day, this is about ensuring Orvis continues to show up in the ways people know and love us for, for decades into the future.”
The news of the Orvis store closures follows a round of layoffs revealed last fall as Orvis said it would move its headquarters from Sunderland, Vt., to a smaller location in Manchester, Vt., and discontinue its catalogue. Orvis claims to be the oldest mail-order retailer in the U.S., producing catalogues since the late 1800s. At that time, 112 people, or about 8 percent of its workforce, were let go, according to published reports. Another 4 percent of the staff, or some 50 people, were cut in June, according to VTDigger, a local Vermont publication.
In the statement, Perkins said Orvis “will be concentrating on a more focused retail store portfolio, as well as brick-and-mortar opportunities through our valued dealer network.” The company works with some 550 dealers globally. It will continue to operate its website and its Orvis Adventures business, which offers “endorsed lodges and experiences,” Perkins said.
“Looking ahead, we are investing in the areas where Orvis makes its greatest impact — world-class gear and apparel, unforgettable experiences, and a deep commitment to conservation. As part of this transition, Orvis will offer special savings on ‘Last Release’ styles that will not return once they are gone, along with substantial savings at closing store locations,” he said.
Among the “Last Release” items highlighted on its website on Tuesday were a men’s Comfort Stretch long-sleeve shirt for $119, a flannel shirt for $169, angler chinos for $59, a women’s long-sleeve ribbed henley for $79, a long-sleeve crew for $49, dog beds for $349 to $449, an American bison leather wallet for $98 and a trout money clip for $89.
Although not the founders, the Perkins family has owned Orvis since 1965 when Leigh H. Perkins, a lifelong outdoorsman, bought the company, which was founded by Charles F. Orvis.
Over the years the Perkins family opened the world’s first fly-fishing school in Manchester, followed by a wing shooting school several years later. It also supported a wide range of outdoor-related charities.
After Leigh H. Perkins retired in 1992, the business passed to his sons Leigh H. “Perk” Perkins Jr., and David Perkins, and subsequently Simon Perkins, Perk Perkins’ son.
Orvis isn’t the only outdoor retailer to resort to layoffs in the past couple of years. In January, REI Co-op shuttered its experiences business and laid off 428 full- and part-time employees on top of the 357 people it laid off the year before. L.L. Bean reduced its workforce by 3 percent — or upward of 50 people — at the end of 2024, and Eastern Mountain Sports filed Chapter 11. But since its reorganization, L.L. Bean has expanded its store fleet with 11 units being added between 2024 and the end of this year and another eight planned for 2026.
Not surprisingly, Simon Perkins sought to focus on the positives as he looked to the future. “For nearly 170 years, our customers have trusted Orvis as their outfitter for gear and adventure on the water and in the field, and that commitment will remain our compass as we build for the next 170 years,” he said.