Buckle (clothing retailer)
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (fashion) |
| Predecessor | Mills Clothing |
| Founded | January 1, 1948 in Kearney, Nebraska, United States |
| Founder | David Hirschfeld |
| Headquarters | Kearney , United States |
Area served | United States (42 states) |
Key people | Dan Hirschfeld (former CEO) |
| Products | Apparel, footwear, accessories |
| Website | www |
The Buckle, Inc. is a U.S.-based fashion retailer that specializes in apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and children. The company operates a total of 451 stores under the names Buckle and The Buckle across 42 states in the United States. Its product range includes both well-known brand names and private label merchandise such as denim, casual pants, tops, dresses, sportswear, outerwear, shoes, swimwear, fragrances, sunglasses, handbags, wallets, and various accessories.
History
The company originated in 1948 in Kearney when David Hirschfeld founded Mills Clothing. In 1965, his son Dan Hirschfeld assumed control of the business. Two years later, in 1967, a second location was acquired and operated under the name Brass Buckle, concentrating primarily on denim and casual menswear. By the early 1970s, Brass Buckle had become recognized as a retailer specializing in denim.
Expansion into women's clothing occurred in 1977 alongside the opening of its first mall-based store. The Brass Buckle brand was renamed The Buckle, Inc. in 1991, coinciding with the introduction of its private label 'bkle' (now known as BKE). The company made its initial public offering on NASDAQ under the symbol BKLE in 1992 and had grown to 100 stores across 18 states by that time.
- 1997 – The company transitioned its stock listing to the New York Stock Exchange with ticker symbol BKE.
- 1998 – Store count increased to 200 locations spanning 29 states.
- 1999 – Debuted its first online retail platform.
- 2009 – Expanded to 400 stores in 41 states.
- 2010 – Established a new distribution facility covering 240,000 square feet.
- 2011 – Achieved sales of five million pairs of jeans within a single year.
- 2017 – Operated more than 450 stores throughout 44 states.
Merchandise
The Buckle's inventory includes denim jeans, casual pants, fashionable tops, dresses, athletic wear, outerwear, footwear, swimwear, fragrances, sunglasses, handbags, wallets, and other accessories. Private label products represent approximately 35% of the company's overall sales volume.
External links
- Companies based in Nebraska
- Clothing retailers of the United States
- Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange
- Clothing brands of the United States
- 2010s fashion
- 2000s fashion
- 1990s fashion
- 1980s fashion
- American companies established in 1948
- Retail companies established in 1948
- 1948 establishments in Nebraska
- Kearney, Nebraska
- 1992 initial public offerings