Corporate Office

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

Edible Arrangements Corporate Office

Edible Arrangements creates bouquets of fresh fruit that is hand-sculpted into flowers and other shapes and can be dipped in chocolate.

Edible Arrangements was founded in 1999 when Tariq Farid partnered with his brother Kamran Farid to open the first Edible Arrangements store in East Haven, Connecticut. The brothers then designed the computer systems, training manuals, production and profitability tracking systems, and supply chain management process.

Upon completion, in 2001 they began to franchise their business. The first franchise opened in 2001 in Waltham, Massachusetts.

The company grew quickly, with its biggest growth year in 2009 when agreements were signed to open franchises in Texas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia nationally and Italy, Hong Kong, and Turkey internationally.

In 2010, the company faced a lawsuit from some of their franchises, which stated that some corporate practices and policies were making their franchises less profitable. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court in 2013. The details of the settlement were not revealed to the public.

The company sued World Media Group in August 2020 to obtain the domain name Edibles.com, stating that it was an infringment of the company’s name.

Today there are 1,100 Edible Arrangements locations in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Italy, Turkey, Hong Kong, Oman, India, and China. Edible Arrangements had $600 million in revenue in 2019.

Edible Arrangements

Edible Arrangements creates bouquets of fresh fruit that is hand-sculpted into flowers and other shapes and can be dipped in chocolate.

History

Upon completion, in 2001 they began to franchise their business. The first franchise opened in 2001 in Waltham, Massachusetts.

The company sued World Media Group in August 2020 to obtain the domain name Edibles.com, stating that it was an infringment of the company’s name.

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.