Amazon has announced the layoff of around 200 employees from its Fashion and Fitness division, primarily affecting staff based in San Diego, according to reports. The layoffs are part of the company’s efforts to restructure its North America Stores team for better innovation and focus on customer needs.

 

In a statement, Amazon explained, “We've realigned parts of our team to better deliver on our priorities, which led to the tough decision to eliminate a small number of roles.”

 

Unrelated to "Try Before You Buy" Program Shutdown

 

The layoffs are not linked to the recent discontinuation of Amazon's "Try Before You Buy" program, which allowed customers to try on clothing and footwear before purchasing. Launched in 2018, the service was phased out due to limited scalability and the growing adoption of AI-driven tools.

 

Amazon stated that features like virtual try-ons, personalized size recommendations, and enhanced size charts have gained popularity, making the program redundant. Despite the changes, the company remains focused on expanding its apparel and fitness categories in a competitive market.