Clothing

Army and Air Force Exchange Service Corporate Office

Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is an agency of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). Its dual missions are to provide quality merchandise and necessary services and convenience to customers at uniform low prices, and to generate earnings to supplement funds in support of United States Army and Air Force Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) programs.

The Exchange returns about two-thirds of its earnings back to its customer base through MWR programs. The Exchange funds 98% of its own operating budget, with the remaining 2% coming from the Department of Defense.

The Exchange runs more than 3,700 facilities, including base exchanges, at US Army and Air Force bases in more than 30 countries, all 50 U.S. states, and five U.S. territories. The Exchange serves active-duty military personnel, reservists, retirees, and their family members.

The Exchange had revenue of over $10 billion in 2011. Starting Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2017, military exchanges will offer online exchange shopping privileges to an estimated 18.5 million honorably discharged veterans.

Army and Air Force Exchange Service

History

Ann Taylor Corporate Office

Ann Taylor is a specialty apparel retail chain that is marketed under four divisions: Ann Taylor, LOFT, Ann Taylor Factory, and LOFT Outlet.

Richard Liebeskind founded Ann Taylor when he opened the first Ann Taylor store in New Haven, Connecticut in 1954. He named the store after the name of a best-selling dress, the “Ann Taylor,” at his father’s store.

In 1977 Liebeskind sold his stores to Garfinkle, Brooks Brothers, and Miller Rhodes Corporation. Under new management, the stores spread rapidly. The new flagship store on 57th street in Manhattan featured a chic restaurant and represented the Ann Taylor customer of the time: a new breed of well-dressed career women who favored classic fabrics in fashionable designs.

Throughout the 1980’s Ann Taylor changed owners several times. The company went public in 1991, trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

In 2004 the company celebrated its 50th “ANNiversary.”

In 2011, the company changed its name from Ann Taylor to Ann, Inc.

Today Ann Inc. operates over 1,000 stores comprising 275 Ann Taylor stores, 105 Ann Taylor Factory stores, 525 LOFT stores, and 102 LOFT Outlet stores in 47 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada. The company has 20,000 employees and had $2.48 billion in revenue in 2012.

Ann Taylor

Ann Taylor is a specialty apparel retail chain that is marketed under four divisions: Ann Taylor, LOFT, Ann Taylor Factory, and LOFT Outlet.

History

Throughout the 1980’s Ann Taylor changed owners several times. The company went public in 1991, trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

In 2004 the company celebrated its 50th “ANNiversary.”

In 2011, the company changed its name from Ann Taylor to Ann, Inc.

Orchard Brands Corporate Office

Orchard Brands was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts.

This retailer is direct-to-consumer and has a portfolio of fifteen brands, all targeted at men and women over 55. These brands are: Appleseed’s, Bedford Fair, Blair, Draper’s & Damon’s, Gold Violin, Haband!, Linen Source, Mom Thompson, Old Pueblo Traders, sahalie, Solutions, The Tog Shop, Willow Ridge, and WinterSilks.

Orchard Brands offers apparel, accessories, shoes, and home, garden, and health products through its brands, sold through catalogs, e-commerce sites, and Appleseed’s retail stores in New England and Draper’s & Damon’s retail stores in 6 states.

The company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2011 and emerged 3 months later. Orchard Brands is now owned by private equity firm Golden Gate Capital.

Orchard Brands has $1 billion in annual revenue.

Orchard Brands

Orchard Brands was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts.

History

The company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2011 and emerged 3 months later. Orchard Brands is now owned by private equity firm Golden Gate Capital.

Orchard Brands has $1 billion in annual revenue.

The Children’s Place Corporate Office

The Children’s Place was founded by Harvard business school graduates David Pulver and Clinton Clark when they opened their first store in 1965 in Hartford, Connecticut. The store lost money for three years before the two founders had adjusted the product mix and their finances began to turn around.

By 1981 the chain had 65 stores and enjoyed a corner on the niche market of a children’s only department store.

The company was sold to Federated Department Stores in 1982. Under new management, the chain continued to grow and in 1988 The Children’s Place had 161 stores. However, the chain was losing money and was sold to an investor group led by the Dabah family.

In the 1990s the company was restructured to handle its debt. The Children’s Place went public in 1997, raising $50 million to pay off its debts.

In March 2018, Forbes wrote an article stating that, unlike Toys R Us, the company is doing well and meeting or exceeding financial expectations.

The Children’s Place stated that they expected much lower earning for the second quarter of 2020 due to the coronavirus.

In late October 2020, the company secured an $80 million term loan agreement.

Today The Children’s Place has 965 stores in the United States and a further 130 in Canada. The company has over 4,000 employees and had $1.938 billion in revenue in 2018.

The Children's Place

History

By 1981 the chain had 65 stores and enjoyed a corner on the niche market of a children’s only department store.

In the 1990s the company was restructured to handle its debt. The Children’s Place went public in 1997, raising $50 million to pay off its debts.

In March 2018, Forbes wrote an article stating that, unlike Toys R Us, the company is doing well and meeting or exceeding financial expectations.

The Children’s Place stated that they expected much lower earning for the second quarter of 2020 due to the coronavirus.

In late October 2020, the company secured an $80 million term loan agreement.

Today The Children’s Place has 965 stores in the United States and a further 130 in Canada. The company has over 4,000 employees and had $1.938 billion in revenue in 2018.

eBags Corporate Office

A group of five people founded eBags in 1998: John Nordmark, Peter Cobb, Frank Steed, Andy Youngs, and Eliot Cobb.

They launched an e-commerce site, www.ebags.com, in 1999 with seven brands, including Samsonite, JanSport, and Skyway luggage.

eBags drop-shipped most products directly from manufacturers to customers, meaning eBags did not keep any stock but rather transferred the merchandise directly from manufacturer or wholesaler to the customer.

The company grew, experiencing some downturn which caused it to diversify into handbags and purses.

eBags expanded unsuccessfully to Europe in 2004, and ended up shutting that operation down in 2008.

Today eBags is an online retailer of handbags, luggage, backpacks, laptop bags, and accessories from more than 500 brands. It has its own brand, The eBags Brand, and also operates handbags.com.

eBags, Inc.

A group of five people founded eBags in 1998: John Nordmark, Peter Cobb, Frank Steed, Andy Youngs, and Eliot Cobb.

They launched an e-commerce site, www.ebags.com, in 1999 with seven brands, including Samsonite, JanSport, and Skyway luggage.

History

The company grew, experiencing some downturn which caused it to diversify into handbags and purses.

eBags expanded unsuccessfully to Europe in 2004, and ended up shutting that operation down in 2008.

Today eBags is an online retailer of handbags, luggage, backpacks, laptop bags, and accessories from more than 500 brands. It has its own brand, The eBags Brand, and also operates handbags.com.