Kids

Payless Corporate Office

Payless Holdings was founded in 1956 by brothers Louis and Shaol Pozez in Topeka, Kansas.

In 1961 the company went public as Volume Shoe Corporation which later merged with May Department Stores Company in 1979.

In 1996 Payless became an independent publicly held company.

In 2007 the company acquired Stride Rite Corporation and changed its name to Collective Brands, Inc.

Payless was purchased in 2012 by Wolverine World Wide, Blum Capital, and Golden Gate Capital for $1.32 billion.

In 2017, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and emerged later that same year after reorganizing its debts.

Today Payless has almost 5,000 stores globally in the United States, Barbados, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.

Payless has 26,800 employees and had $2.8 billion in revenue in 2012.

Payless

Payless Holdings was founded in 1956 by brothers Louis and Shaol Pozez in Topeka, Kansas.

In 1961 the company went public as Volume Shoe Corporation which later merged with May Department Stores Company in 1979.

In 1996 Payless became an independent publicly held company.

History

In 2007 the company acquired Stride Rite Corporation and changed its name to Collective Brands, Inc.

Payless was purchased in 2012 by Wolverine World Wide, Blum Capital, and Golden Gate Capital for $1.32 billion.

In 2017, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and emerged later that same year after reorganizing its debts.

Today Payless has almost 5,000 stores globally in the United States, Barbados, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.

Payless has 26,800 employees and had $2.8 billion in revenue in 2012.

Kate Spade Corporate Office

Kate Brosnahan Spade started Kate Spade New York under the name Kate Spade Handbags in 1993 when she set out to design the perfect handbag.

Ms. Spade was a former accessories editor at Mademoiselle. Through her time at Mademoiselle, she noticed that the market lacked stylish and sensible handbags. This inspired her to create a line of handbags with classic shapes, colors, and fabrics.

The brand was sold to Neiman Marcus in 1996 and was then expanded to include stationary, personal organizers, address books, beauty products, perfume, raincoats, pajamas, and eyewear.

In 2004 Kate Spade Home was launched, featuring bedding, bath items, china, wallpaper, and other home products.

In 2007 the company was sold to Fifth & Pacific, formerly known as Liz Claiborne Inc.

In 2008 the new owners cashed out and a new management was installed. The new leadership then expanded the brand to jewelry, shoes, baby, fragrance, and gifts.

Kate Spade apparently committed suicide in her Manhattan apartment. She was 55.

Today Kate Spade New York is a global company with stores in Tokyo, London, Paris, and Germany. The company has retail, wholesale, and e-commerce business. Kate Spade had $462 million in sales in 2012.

Kate Spade

Kate Brosnahan Spade started Kate Spade New York under the name Kate Spade Handbags in 1993 when she set out to design the perfect handbag.

History

The brand was sold to Neiman Marcus in 1996 and was then expanded to include stationary, personal organizers, address books, beauty products, perfume, raincoats, pajamas, and eyewear.

In 2004 Kate Spade Home was launched, featuring bedding, bath items, china, wallpaper, and other home products.

In 2007 the company was sold to Fifth & Pacific, formerly known as Liz Claiborne Inc.

In 2008 the new owners cashed out and a new management was installed. The new leadership then expanded the brand to jewelry, shoes, baby, fragrance, and gifts.

Kate Spade apparently committed suicide in her Manhattan apartment. She was 55.

Bluestem Brands Corporate Office

Previous to 2010, Bluestem Brands was named Fingerhut Companies, Inc.

Fingerhut Companies, Inc. was founded in 1948 by William Fingerhut and his brother, Manny Fingerhut. At first, the company produced and sold automobile seat covers.

In 1952 the brothers reorganized their company as a mail-order company.

Fingerhut Companies went public in 1969.

In 1995 Fingerhut launched two e-commerce sites: fingerhut.com and AndysGarage.com.

The company was acquired several times in its history, with the most recent being by Bain Capital, the current owner of the company.

Since the acquisition of the company by Bain Capital the company has shown tremendous growth. Previous to 2004, the year of the first investment by Bain, Fingerhut had only $135 million annually in sales. In 2012 the company has $700 million in sales.

Fingerhut was rebranded as Bluestem Brands in 2010.

Today Bluestem Brands offers private-label and name-brand merchandise, including apparel, appliances, electronics, furniture, health and beauty products, jewelry, kitchenware, luggage, sporting goods, toys, and tools through its two e-commerce sites: fingerhut.com and Gettington.com. The company also owns and operates Paycheck Direct, an employee purchase plan whereby employees can buy big ticket items through interest-free payroll deductions.

Bluestem Brands, Inc.

Previous to 2010, Bluestem Brands was named Fingerhut Companies, Inc.

Fingerhut Companies, Inc. was founded in 1948 by William Fingerhut and his brother, Manny Fingerhut. At first, the company produced and sold automobile seat covers.

In 1952 the brothers reorganized their company as a mail-order company.

History

Fingerhut Companies went public in 1969.

In 1995 Fingerhut launched two e-commerce sites: fingerhut.com and AndysGarage.com.

The company was acquired several times in its history, with the most recent being by Bain Capital, the current owner of the company.

Fingerhut was rebranded as Bluestem Brands in 2010.

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.

Ralph Lauren Corporate Office

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.

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 Corporation

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.

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.