White House Black Market
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (women's apparel) |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Patricia Smith, Richard Sarmiento |
| Headquarters | Fort Myers, Florida , United States |
Area served | United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada (until 2020) |
Key people | Donna M. Noce (President) |
| Products | Women's apparel and accessories (tops, dresses, skirts, pants, jackets, outerwear, footwear, jewelry) |
| Parent | Chico's FAS |
White House Black Market is a U.S.-based retailer specializing in women's apparel, with its headquarters located in Fort Myers, Florida. Established in 1985, this multichannel brand focuses on offering premium clothing and accessories.
The company manages 451 retail boutiques alongside 67 outlet locations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada. Its assortment encompasses tops, dresses, skirts, pants, jackets, outerwear, footwear, jewelry, and various accessories. Since 2003, White House Black Market has operated as a subsidiary of Chico's FAS, enhancing the parent company's presence in the women's fashion retail sector.
1980s and 1990s
In 1985, entrepreneurs Patricia Smith and Richard Sarmiento launched The White House store in Baltimore, Maryland, marking the beginning of White House Black Market. Initially dedicated solely to women's white clothing, the boutique targeted an upscale clientele and achieved notable financial success.
The company commenced its national growth in 1991 with assistance from National Retail Group, a consulting firm based in North Carolina. By 1995, it expanded its offerings by introducing the "Black Market" retail concept in Annapolis, Maryland, which featured apparel beyond just white garments. Two years later, in 1997, the company merged both retail concepts into a unified White House Black Market store format to streamline operations and improve customer service.
2000s
Chico's FAS, Inc. acquired White House Black Market in 2003 for $90 million—comprising $85.6 million in cash and $4.4 million in Chico’s common stock—following the retailer’s initial public offering.
Donna M. Noce assumed the role of brand President at White House Black Market in 2007. Her prior experience includes executive positions at Ann Taylor LOFT, Lerner New York Division of Limited, Inc., and Petrie Stores Corporation.
The brand received heightened attention in 2008 when Michelle Obama wore its Tank Leaf Print Dress on The View, resulting in swift sellouts and increased market recognition.
Collections
White House Black Market's product range includes dresses, jackets, pants, footwear, swimwear, tees, accessories, and wardrobe essentials. Notable collections encompass:
- Iconic Black & White – Featuring timeless black and white garments.
- Workwear – The WorkKit collection offers seasonless black fabric pieces such as pants, jackets, shirts, and accessories tailored for professional settings.
- Wedding & Event Boutique – Introduced in January 2015, this collection features versatile items like the "Genius dress," along with party dresses, cocktail attire, bridesmaid outfits, shoes, and jewelry.
Advertising and promotion
In fiscal year 2014, WHBM revitalized its tier-based loyalty initiative called WHBM Rewards. This program provides customers with discounts, special promotions, complimentary shipping, and exclusive sale invitations contingent on their spending levels.
WHBM’s marketing approach incorporates its loyalty program alongside direct mail and email campaigns, national print and broadcast advertisements, online and telephone sales channels, social media engagement, and community involvement efforts.
The brand has partnered with prominent models including Alyssa Miller, Linda Voitova, Michaela Kocianova, Anne Vyalitsyna, Bette Franke, Lakshmi Menon, and Ali Stephens. A television commercial released in 2012 featured supermodel Coco Rocha presenting the WorkKit collection under the direction of Johan Renck.
Locations
White House Black Market maintains a network of more than 440 stores and around 60 outlet locations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The brand ventured into the international market by opening its inaugural Canadian boutique in Toronto in October 2014. Within a few months, by January 2015, WHBM had established five retail outlets across Canada. Nevertheless, during the COVID-19 crisis, all Canadian stores were shuttered following Chico's FAS Canada's bankruptcy filing, leading to the official withdrawal from the Canadian market in September 2020.
See also
- Articles with short description
- Clothing retailers of the United States
- American companies established in 1985
- Retail companies established in 1985
- 1985 establishments in Maryland
- Companies that have filed for bankruptcy in Canada
- Companies based in Lee County, Florida
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment