Claire's
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Claire's Stores, Inc. | |
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| Type | Subsidiary of Apollo Management, LLC |
| Founded | 1961 (as Fashion Tress, Inc) |
| Headquarters | Hoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S. |
| Industry | Retail |
| Products | Accessories and cosmetics |
| Website | clairesstores.com |
Claire's is a retail store chain that primarily targets female teenagers and preteens. Claire's has over 3,000 locations worldwide in North America, Europe, Japan, the Middle East, and South Africa.
Claire's sells mostly accessory products such as jewelry, make-up, and hair and belt accessories. Claire's also sells notebooks and pens, stuffed animals, and some clothing. The stores offer a wide variety of styles in their products, ranging from punk, gothic, emo, and rock chick to pink, glittery, girly and flowery items. Nearly all Claire's locations also offer free ear piercing with the purchase of piercing studs and ear care antiseptic.
The store carries its own perfume line, in addition to fragrances from Britney Spears, Hilary Duff and Hello Kitty. Icing also has their own perfume line.
During certain holidays, Claire's sells products such as costume jewelry, make-up, and pet clothing. These themed items are sold at holidays including Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day, Saint Patrick's Day, and Easter.
[edit] History
In 1961, Fashion Tress, Inc., the predecessor of present-day Claire's, was established by Rowland Schaefer. Fashion Tress was a manufacturer of wigs and accessories, and went public in over-the-counter trading.
The name was changed to FT Industries, Inc. in 1973, when Schaefer bought the company Claire's Boutiques, Inc., which had operated sixty stores in the Chicago area.
During the early 1980s, Schaefer took the company in a new direction by divesting the manufacturing businesses and focusing the company on specialty retailing of women's fashion accessories.
In 1983, the company name was changed again to the current name, Claire's Stores, Inc. The company was later listed on the NYSE under the symbol CLE.
In 1999, Claire's acquired the chain "Afterthoughts" and converted them into "Icing by Claire's." Icing caters more towards females aged 17-27.
On May 29, 2007, the company merged with Apollo Management, LLC. Eugene S. Kahn was appointed CEO.
