Cosmetics

Claire’s Stores Corporate Office

Claire’s was founded in 1961. Originally named Fashion Tress, the company’s main focus was on wigs and hairpieces. In 1973, Fashion Tress purchased Claire’s, a jewelry chain with 25 locations at the time. The company moved away from wigs and placed their focus on costume jewelry and ear piercing.

Most Claire’s locations today are geared towards pre-teens and teenagers. Many locations have a section for children under 7. The company offers costume jewelry, fashion jewelry, hair accessories, clip in hair pieces, teen music band jewelry and body jewelry, such as tongue rings. In America, 95% of all shopping malls contain a Claire’s store.

Claire’s has 3,469 locations throughout the U.S. and globally, including Hong Kong and the U.K. The company had $1.6 billion in sales in 2015 and employs 17,600 persons worldwide.

Claire's

Claire’s has 3,469 locations throughout the U.S. and globally, including Hong Kong and the U.K. The company had $1.6 billion in sales in 2015 and employs 17,600 persons worldwide.

History

Curacao Corporate Office

Curacao was founded in Burbank, California, in 1978 by current CEO Jerry Azarkman. Originally named La Curacao, the company was popular among lower income Hispanics who were unable to buy on credit. Curacao allowed clients to purchase items with only down payment, then collect money from customers weekly.

Azarkman originally sold out of his home, as well as door to door sales. He spoke very little English and no Spanish at the time, but he learned quickly. Azarkman is known for saying that courtesy and respect are languages everyone understands. Curacao opened its first store in the Pico district of Los Angeles in 1983.

Today, Curacao has more than 11 stores throughout Southern California, two stores in Arizona, with plans to expand to Texas and Nevada. Curacao employs more than 2,180 persons and annual revenue in 2014 of $2.5 million.

Curacao

History

Barneys New York Corporate Office

Barney Pressman founded Barneys New York in 1923. Pawning his wife’s engagement ring for $500, he rented a small storefront on 7th Avenue and West 17th Street in Manhattan. Barneys originally sold discounted clothing that he purchased from showroom samples and overstocks. The company also offered free parking and free alterations to attract more customers.

The company did a complete turnaround in 1973 when Fred Pressman, son of founder Barney Pressman, decided that the company could do better than selling discount items. The company began to stock designer, high end clothing items from designers such as Armani, Bill Blass, and Christian Dior.

In 2004, the Pressman family sold their remaining interest in Barneys. Today, the company is mainly owned by Perry Capital. The company has 27 locations and had revenue in 2015 of $1 billion.

Barneys New York

In 2004, the Pressman family sold their remaining interest in Barneys. Today, the company is mainly owned by Perry Capital. The company has 27 locations and had revenue in 2015 of $1 billion.

History

Guthy-Renker Corporate Office

Guthy-Renker was founded in 1988 by Bill Guthy and Greg Renker. The company is a direct response marketing company which sells products to consumers via television ads, direct mail, informercials, email campaigns, telemarketing, and internet ads.

Guthy-Renker began with a single product, Proactiv, which is an acne treatment program. As of 2014, the company has 8 different product groups, most of which are celebrity endorsed beauty treatments. Proactiv accounts for half of the company’s annual revenue. In 2013, that revenue was $1.8 billion.

Other products sold by Guthy-Renker include Meaningful Beauty, Crepe Erase, and WEN Hair Care products.

Guthy-Renker

Other products sold by Guthy-Renker include Meaningful Beauty, Crepe Erase, and WEN Hair Care products.

History

Aveda Corporate Office

Aveda was founded in 1978 by Horst Rechelbacher. While on a trip to India in 1970, Rechelbacher was introduced to the ancient Hindu practice of medicine called Ayurveda. He decided to make his own company using these naturalistic principles. His first product was a clove shampoo that he made in his kitchen sink.

Aveda offers personal care items, such as skin creams and hair care products, made as organic as possible. The company is unique in that it was the 1st to endorse a set of principles that encourages environmental responsibility in manufacturing.

The company now offers vegan products that few other companies have considered making, such as shampoo.

In 2011, Aveda was slammed at an event in Park City, Utah, during the Evolution of Women in Social Media conference, for announcing their no-payment policy for bloggers reviewing their products.

The company had revenue in 2014 of $1.5 billion. Aveda was sold in 1997 to Estee Lauder for $300 million. Aveda products are sold in 150 countries with 40 percent sold in the Americas.

Aveda maintains a corporate office in Blaine, Minnesota.

Aveda

History

The company now offers vegan products that few other companies have considered making, such as shampoo.

In 2011, Aveda was slammed at an event in Park City, Utah, during the Evolution of Women in Social Media conference, for announcing their no-payment policy for bloggers reviewing their products.

The company had revenue in 2014 of $1.5 billion. Aveda was sold in 1997 to Estee Lauder for $300 million. Aveda products are sold in 150 countries with 40 percent sold in the Americas.

Aveda maintains a corporate office in Blaine, Minnesota.