American Eagle Outfitters is shuttering its Quiet Logistics business, the retailer said in an email to Supply Chain Dive, marking an end to its "anti-Amazon" ambitions for the 2021 acquisition.
Quiet, which offers fulfillment and delivery capabilities, has struggled to attract enough business since American Eagle bought and combined it with delivery startup AirTerra, which the retailer also acquired in 2021. As of last year, Quiet primarily served as a regionalized fulfillment center network for American Eagle, with excess capacity servicing third-party customers.
Services for Quiet's third-party customers will discontinue over the next several months, according to American Eagle. The company did not provide information on how many people would be laid off as a result of the closure.
"Quiet has valued its partnerships with its customers and will assist with their transition to new providers," American Eagle said. "We appreciate the contributions of our associates, and we are committed to doing what we can to support them as well."
Quiet's fulfillment centers in Boston and Dallas are expected to cease operations in the first half of 2026 as a result of the shutdown, per American Eagle. Its facility in La Palma, California, will close as previously planned as American Eagle prepares to open a distribution center in Phoenix. Quiet's Atlanta fulfillment center will continue providing distribution services for American Eagle brands.
"This strategic decision will enable [American Eagle] to prioritize growth and focus on its portfolio of leading lifestyle brands," the retailer said.
While Quiet struggled to grow third-party interest, the business' infrastructure had helped American Eagle improve its own supply chain performance. Quiet's network allowed American Eagle to place inventory closer to stores and customers, boosting delivery times and trimming costs in the process, executives said in 2024.
