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Charming Shoppes

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Charming Shoppes, Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRetail
Founded1940; 86 years ago (1940)
DefunctTemplate:End date and age
FateMerged into Ascena Retail Group
HeadquartersBensalem, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Key people
Jim P. Fogarty - President and CEO
ProductsWomen's apparel
RevenueIncrease$811 Million USD (2008)
Number of employees
10,300 (2008)
ParentAscena Retail Group
(2012–present)
SubsidiariesLane Bryant
Petite Sophisticate
Catherines
Websitewww.charmingshoppes.com

Charming Shoppes, Inc. operated as a retail holding company focusing on specialty and plus size clothing, headquartered in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, a suburb near Philadelphia. Its portfolio included brands such as Lane Bryant, Cacique, Fashion Bug, and Catherines Plus.[1] The company retailed its apparel through more than 2300 stores across the United States, supplemented by catalog sales and online platforms.[2] In 2012, Charming Shoppes was acquired by Ascena Retail Group.

History

Established in 1940, Charming Shoppes went public in 1971,[3] and was listed as number 927 on the 2012 edition of the Fortune 1000.[4] On May 2, 2012, Ascena Retail Group—known for owning Dressbarn—revealed plans to purchase Charming Shoppes in a deal valued at approximately $900 million. This acquisition was financed through a combination of available cash and $325 million borrowed via credit facilities.[1][5][6]

Services and products

The Company operated through two primary divisions: Retail Stores and Direct-to-Consumer.

  • The Retail Stores division generated income from sales conducted in physical retail locations as well as related e-commerce activities under the Lane Bryant (including Lane Bryant Outlet), Fashion Bug, and Catherines Plus Sizes brand names.
    • Lane Bryant — Specializing in plus-size fashion, Lane Bryant was acquired by Charming Shoppes in 2001. It operates over 900 stores nationwide, offering apparel tailored for plus-size women. In July 2006, the company introduced Lane Bryant Outlet stores.
    • Catherines Plus — Serving women aged 40 to 65, Catherines is a plus-size specialty retailer with more than 500 outlets across the United States, providing clothing and accessories suited for both professional and casual occasions.
  • The Direct-to-Consumer division earned revenue through catalog sales and catalog-driven e-commerce under the FIGI’S brand,[7] a prominent retailer of gourmet food gifts. On October 16, 2013, Charming Shoppes announced the completion of Figi's sale to Mason Companies, Inc.[8]

Defunct brands

File:Fashion Bug at the Esplanade - Hillsboro, Oregon.JPG
A Fashion Bug location at a strip mall in Hillsboro, Oregon
  • Fashion Bug — As the original chain that established Charming Shoppes and for many years its sole brand, Fashion Bug expanded to over 1,200 stores nationwide. These outlets offered women's fashion apparel across plus, misses', and junior sizes and were typically situated in strip shopping centers and malls, targeting middle- to lower-income customers. In June 2012, Charming Shoppes announced plans to close all Fashion Bug stores, with the last locations shutting down by February 2013.
  • Added Dimensions and The Answer — These two chains were acquired along with Catherines in January 2000. They operated plus-size women's stores primarily in the Northeastern and Southeastern United States and had formerly belonged to Virginia Specialty Stores before being purchased by Catherines Inc. in 1992. Charming managed this 77-store group until 2002, after which it decided to close approximately 80% of the stores and rebrand the remaining 20% as Catherines locations.
  • Modern Woman — This chain comprised about 125 plus-size women's clothing stores mainly located in strip shopping centers across the U.S. Acquired by Charming in 1999, most Modern Woman stores were converted into Catherines outlets while some transitioned to Fashion Bug Plus locations.
  • PS...Plus Sizes, Plus Savings — Established by Catherines Inc. in 1980 and included when Charming Shoppes acquired Catherines Inc. in January 2000, these stores were eventually rebranded under other Charming Shoppes brands.
  • Monsoon and Accessorize — Launched as a joint venture between Charming Shoppes Inc. and UK-based Monsoon plc, this partnership sought to introduce two successful British brands into enclosed shopping malls across the U.S. Around ten pilot stores opened in malls located in Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania during 2002. The collaboration ended in 2007 with all stores closing thereafter.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ↑ Charming Shoppes catalogs Archived November 5, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Charming Shoppes history Archived December 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named reuters1
  8. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Sources

External links

Template:Philadelphia Corporations Template:Ascena Retail Group

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