Corporate Office HQ

Under Armour Corporate Office

Under Armour

Under Armour was founded by Kevin Plank, a 23-year-old former fullback on the University of Maryland’s football team, in 1996 from his grandmother’s basement in Washington, DC.

Plank got tired of changing out of his sweaty t-shirts and noticed that his compression shorts stayed dry under his uniform. After graduation he developed his first prototype of a shirt made of moisture-wicking synthetic fabric and gave it to his former teammates who had gone on to play for the NFL.

The brand began to take off when with contracts with Arizona State and North Carolina State Universities in 1996.

History

In 1999 Warner Brothers contacted Under Armour to outfit two of its movies: Any Given Sunday and The Replacements. Plank leveraged the release of the movies and strategically generated enough sales to finally put himself on the payroll.

Today Under Armour is a supplier of sport and casual apparel and footwear. The company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker UA. Under Armour has offices in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Canada, and Guangzhou, China. Worldwide headquarters are in Baltimore, Maryland. The company has 5,900 employees and had $1.83 billion in revenue in 2012.

Under Armour was founded by Kevin Plank, a 23-year-old former fullback on the University of Maryland's football team, in 1996 from his grandmother's basement in Washington, DC. Plank got tired of changing out of his sweaty t-shirts and noticed … [Continue reading] about Under Armour Corporate Office

Chico’s FAS Corporate Office

Chico's FAS

Chico’s FAS was founded in 1983 by Marvin and Helene Gralnick as a boutique selling Mexican folk art and cotton sweaters in Sanibel Island, Florida.

The first Chico’s franchise opened just four years later in 1987.

The company grew quickly throughout the 1990’s and in 2001 there were more than 300 Chico’s stores in 40 states. Most were directly owned and operated by the company but several were franchised.

History

The company designs and produces its own clothing lines exclusively, targeting women over 35.

Today Chico’s FAS has the brands Chico’s, White House/Black Market, Soma Intimates, and Boston Proper. Chico’s has 600 boutiques and 100 outlets, White House has 402 boutiques and 45 outlets, and Soma Intimates has 206 boutiques and 16 outlets throughout the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Chico’s FAS is a public company trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CHS, has 6,600 employees, and had sales of $2.581 billion in 2012.

Chico's FAS was founded in 1983 by Marvin and Helene Gralnick as a boutique selling Mexican folk art and cotton sweaters in Sanibel Island, Florida. The first Chico's franchise opened just four years later in 1987. The company grew quickly … [Continue reading] about Chico’s FAS Corporate Office

Blue Nile Inc. Corporate Office

Blue Nile Inc.

Blue Nile Inc is a specialty retailer of online jewelry.

Blue Nile Inc. was founded in 1995 by Doug Williams. Mark C. Vadon, then of Bain & Company, raised $6 million to buy 85% of the business in 1999.

The company went public in 2004, raising $76 million with its IPO which was reinvested in the company.

History

In 2004 Blue Nile expanded to Canada, and the following year to the United Kingdom.

In 2006 Blue Nile sold $197 million in engagement rings and wedding bands.

Blue Nile markets itself as a supplier of conflict-free ethical diamonds.

Today Blue Nile is the largest online retailer of diamonds, serving customers in the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region – more than 40 countries in all. Blue Nile has 200 employees and had $333 million in revenue in 2010.

Blue Nile Inc is a specialty retailer of online jewelry. Blue Nile Inc. was founded in 1995 by Doug Williams. Mark C. Vadon, then of Bain & Company, raised $6 million to buy 85% of the business in 1999. The company went public in 2004, … [Continue reading] about Blue Nile Inc. Corporate Office

Market America Corporate Office

Market America

Market America was founded in 1992 by top Amway distributor James Howard Ridinger and his wife Loren Ridinger. Market America is an internet marketing and product brokerage company that utilizes the internet and social media to distribute a variety of products through one-to-one marketing.

The company serves more than 3 million customers, selling household cleaning supplies, jewelry, personal care products, auto care, cosmetics, nutritional products, custom websites, water purifiers, and weight management products. These products and services are not manufactured by Market America, rather they are produced by other companies exclusively for the company.

Market America opened Market Australia in 2002, Market Taiwan in 2005, Market Hong Kong in 2007, Market Philippines in 2010, and Market United Kingdom and Market Mexico in 2012.

History

Market America is a private company with 500 employees and has about $600 million in annual sales.

Ralph Lauren Corporate Office

Ralph Lauren Corporation

Ralph Lauren founded the Ralph Lauren Corporation in 1967. At first, the company only sold men’s ties. Two years later, Ralph Lauren had a boutique store for ties inside Bloomingdale’s department store in Manhattan.

Around the same time, he released a line of women’s suits that were tailored in men’s style with the Polo emblem on the cuff. This was the first time the Polo emblem was seen.

In 1971 the first Ralph Lauren stand-alone store opened in Beverly Hills, California.

History

In 1981 the company opened its first international location in London.

The Polo Sport Line was introduced in 1993.

The company went public in 1997, trading on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker RL. By that time Ralph Lauren was an umbrella corporation for the company’s various brands and other ventures.

Today Ralph Lauren includes the brands Polo by Ralph Lauren, Chaps, Rugby, RRL, Club Monaco, and RLX Ralph Lauren. The company designs and markets apparel and home furnishings, and fragrances. The company has 380 stores and its products are available at 11,000 locations worldwide.

Ralph Lauren Corporation is #370 in the Fortune 500, a member of the S&P 500, has 19,000 employees, and had $5 billion in revenue in 2010.

Ralph Lauren founded the Ralph Lauren Corporation in 1967. At first, the company only sold men's ties. Two years later, Ralph Lauren had a boutique store for ties inside Bloomingdale's department store in Manhattan. Around the same time, he … [Continue reading] about Ralph Lauren Corporate Office