Just days before the retailer made the bad news official, signs began to appear in store windows in Ohio, Virginia and Washington state telling customers the stores were about to close and long-time staffers were being let go. What’s more, the posters listed employee grievances – that they were being given little or no notice; would not be receiving severance; and were not permitted by Wet Seal to look for other jobs.
Some signs were more extreme, noting that the company's new mission statement involves telling lies.
Not surprisingly, the signs went viral, but the company made no comment until it abruptly announced the store closings and firings days later. Wet Seal claims it plans to keep 173 stores and its online business running, but now faces a P.R. debacle on top of all its other woes.