The Turkish clothing retailer LC Waikiki has decided to temporarily suspend the operations of its only flagship store in Sumy. The company's official statement was published on Facebook. The retailer's management explained that this step is necessary to ensure the safety of employees and visitors against the backdrop of the complex situation in the frontline region.
Risk Localization and Shopping Center Status
The store, which was forced to close its doors, is located in the "Kyiv" shopping center in Sumy. The outlet opened in 2020 and remained the only representative of the brand in the city. The company's statement emphasizes that the suspension of operations concerns only the LC Waikiki store. The shopping and entertainment center itself continues to operate in normal mode, accepting visitors and serving other retail outlets.
The resumption of the store's operations will only be possible after the security situation in the Sumy region stabilizes. This decision demonstrates the flexibility of international business, which is forced to adapt to current realities, keeping the lives of people as a priority rather than commercial indicators.
Customer Service and Rights Guarantee
The company has ensured that the temporary closure does not lead to problems for customers who managed to make purchases before the suspension of work. Full service is preserved for all buyers: the possibility of returning goods or resolving warranty issues. Service for such requests is carried out in any other open LC Waikiki store on the territory of Ukraine. This allows maintaining audience loyalty and trust in the brand even under force majeure conditions.
Development Strategy in Wartime Conditions
LC Waikiki has been operating in Ukraine since 2013 through LLC "Tema Moda Ukraine". Despite the loss of stores in Mariupol, Kherson, Odesa, and Kharkiv after 2022, the network did not cease operations but redistributed resources. At the end of 2025, the company opened new outlets in Mukachevo and Chernivtsi, which indicates an intention to continue development in safer regions. The temporary closure in Sumy is a specific case related to a particular threat, not part of a strategy to leave the market.
Context of International Retailers' Actions
Similar measures are part of a systematic approach to risk management in wartime conditions. Previously, similar security pauses were announced by other major players, such as METRO in Zaporizhzhia or the home goods chain JYSK. Notably, some of them, such as JYSK, have already resumed operations (August 8, 2026) as soon as the situation allowed. This confirms that closure decisions are temporary and situational in nature.
