It's a sad day for Gymboree customers. The beloved children's clothing brand will be closing all 900 of their stores after filing for bankruptcy. The news comes just weeks after sister store Crazy 8 announced they would also be closing their doors. As a mom and loyal Gymboree customer, I am incredibly saddened by this news.

The End of an Era

Gymboree re-branded and re-launched new clothing lines earlier this year. When I received a sneak peek at the re-launch, I wasn't thrilled with the direction the brand was headed. I saw funkier, edgier styles, which just didn't seem to fit with what I thought my sweet two-year-old daughter should be wearing. Where were the adorable mix and match tops, frilly skirts, baby booties, and oh, so adorable accessories? So, I decided to give up shopping Gymboree retail, and head over to the closest Gymboree outlet store, where I sought out the manager and asked how much longer I'd be able to get my hands on the 'cute' clothing from previous seasons. With sadness in her eyes, she told me that they'd carry the old designs until they didn't have anymore. At that moment, I felt that there might be more to the story.

So, in the past few months, I have been visiting the Gymboree outlet pretty frequently, and just two weeks ago, bought a bunch of new mix and match pieces for my sweet girl. I love their designs, love the quality, and have been loving the outlet prices, too, as their retail prices have always been a bit steep. 

The other reason I love Gymboree is that it's one of the few clothing stores left that I can shop for both of my kids at. My eight-year-old son can still wear their 10-12 sizes in shirts and pants. It's been our go-to store for bathing suits, basics, gifts for others, etc. In my mind, the quality of their clothing just doesn't measure up to that of brands like The Children's Place, Cat and Jack (via Target, etc. I love Carters and Osh Kosh, but they also tend to be pricey, even at their outlet stores, and they're a bit more popular, sold in more department stores, and therefore can be seen on way more kiddos.

I'm making plans to head to the Gymboree outlet store to start stocking up on what's left for upcoming seasons in larger sizes. Since items are currently on sale and will continue to be discounted as the stores near their closing dates, now is the time to shop ahead and score amazing deals.
*If you're wondering about Janie & Jack, their current plan is to stay open.

Shop the Gymboree MLK Sale with Free Shipping

I'll definitely keep you updated on what's happening with Gymboree. As for now, while stores are still open, take advantage of their sales. Right now, Gymboree is offering 50% off their entire site + Free Shipping. Don't forget about using your Gymboree Rewards and Gymbucks!

MLK: Free Shipping + 50% off entire site

Happy shopping!