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Chico's FAS, Inc.
Company typePublic
IndustryRetail
Founded1983; 41 years ago (1983) (as Folk Art Specialties)
Headquarters
Fort Myers, Florida
,
U.S.
Number of locations
Chico's:
551 boutique, 125 outlet (2018)
White House Black Market:
390 boutique, 65 outlet stores (2018)
Soma:
258 boutique, 19 outlet stores (2018)[1]
Area served
United States
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
Canada
ProductsApparel and accessories
Revenue$2.1 billion (2018)[1]
$43.6 million (2018)[1]
$35.6 million (2018)[1]
Number of employees
18,500 (2018)[1]

Chico's FAS is an American women's clothing and accessories retailer founded in 1983 on Sanibel Island, Florida. The company was founded by Marvin and Helene Gralnick and is headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida. Chico's FAS operates four brands: its namesake Chico's store, White House Black Market, Soma and TellTale.[2][3] As of October 2019, Chico's FAS operated 1,557 women's clothing stores in the US and Canada, and sold merchandise online. Merchandise was also sold through franchise locations in Mexico and U.S. airport locations.[4]

History

1972–1990

Founders Marvin and Helene Gralnick met in 1972 while living in Guadalajara, Mexico. In 1983, they opened a tiny Mexican folk art gift shop in Periwinkle Place on Sanibel Island, Florida.[5] Helene named the shop Folk Art Specialties and then changed the name to Chico's Folk Art Specialties after a friend's pet parrot, Chico.[5] The store sold mostly art, but the sweaters in the store outsold everything else, so Chico's Folk Art Specialties transformed into a clothing boutique.[2][5]

In 1985, Chico's Folk Art Specialties opened a second boutique on Captiva Island, Florida. All early boutiques were infused with Mexican folk art combined with antiques and fixtures manufactured in Marvin's in-house woodshop.[2][5]

In the beginning, Marvin and Helene would not close the store until they reached a certain amount of sales each day. They also could not afford to have bags printed, so the name was handwritten on each bag.[2]

The first franchise store opened in Edina, Minnesota, in 1987. In 1989, the company shortened its name to Chico's FAS (an abbreviation for Folk Art Specialties) and launched the Passport Loyalty Rewards program.[2]

1991–2000

By 1992, the company operated 60 boutiques and began designing its own prints and patterns.[2]

Chico's FAS went public in 1993 and began trading on NASDAQ under the title CHCS. It premiered its Most Amazing Personal Service (MAPS) customer service initiative in 1998, which still remains as part of the company's focus as of 2018.[6] Between 1998 and 2000, Chico's sales increased an average of 50 percent per year.[2][5]

In 1999, Chico's FAS began online sales at Chicos.com. It also began advertising in national magazines, including Martha Stewart Living and Marie Claire.[2]

2001–2010

In 2001, the Chico's FAS Founders building opened in Fort Myers, Florida, and Chico's FAS debuted on the New York Stock Exchange.[2][5]

Chico's FAS aired its first commercial in six major markets on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Martha Stewart Living.[2]

Average new store sales reached $1.45 million per year in 2003. The next year, Chico's FAS acquired White House Black Market, a women's clothing company that focuses on white, black, and other variants of the two colors. Chico's FAS also launched Soma, an intimate apparel boutique.[2]

In 2006, Chico's FAS added 24 acres to the Fort Myers campus to support growth, and stock reached a high of $49.40.[2]

2011–present

In 2011, Chico's FAS acquired Boston Proper, which is a brand available online or by catalog.[7] Two years later, Boston Proper opened its first boutique at Coconut Point in Estero, Florida.[2]

In 2013, Chico's FAS expanded internationally by opening White House Black Market stores in Canada.[8] On May 13, 2014, Chico's FAS announced expansion of the Chico's brand into Canada.[9] Three boutiques have since opened in Canada.[4] Further international expansion has occurred with its namesake Chico's into Mexico in 2014. Through an exclusive franchise with El Puerto de Liverpool ("Liverpool"), Chico's opened a stand-alone boutique at Perisur Mall, Mexico City. Plans for further Chico's expansion into Mexico include more openings of stand-alone boutiques as well as branded shop-in-shops in Liverpool department stores.[9]

In 2016, Chico's FAS sold Boston Proper to Brentwood Associates, an investment firm in Los Angeles.[10]

In 2017, the company launched its first online outlet store, Chico’s Off The Rack.[11] Also in 2017, the company Chico's began selling on cruise ships through Princess Cruises and Starboard Cruise Services.[12] In 2019, Chico’s announced it was opening airport stores in partnership with airport retailer operator Stellar Partnerships.[13][14]

Chico's FAS brands

Chico's

The Chico’s brand was founded in 1983 and originally started as a small boutique selling Mexican folk art and apparel on Sanibel Island, Florida.[5] Today, Chico's primarily sells private branded clothing for women, with a focus on jackets, statement jewelry and clothing with bold prints and patterns.[15] The brand has its own unique sizing that runs from 000-4.5.[16]

White House Black Market

The White House Black Market brand began in 1985 in Baltimore, Maryland, and was acquired by Chico's FAS in 2003.[17] It primarily offers exclusively designed, private label women's clothing and accessory items with a "boutique feel".[clarification needed] Accessory items range from shoes to scarves to jewelry and belts.[18] The focus of each seasonal assortment ranges from everyday basics, to wear-to-work, to fashion in monochromatic black, white, and related shades with "seasonal color splashes".[19]

Soma

Soma was launched by Chico's FAS in 2004.[2] The brand primarily sells lingerie and sleepwear products offering solutions. The brand also offers dresses, loungewear, swimwear and shapewear. In 2019, Soma introduced its SOMAINNOFIT Bluetooth-connected bra.[20] The bra measures women for the correct bra fit and the accompanying app suggests the most appropriate sizes and styles.[20]

TellTale

TellTale is an online intimate apparel brand launched in 2019.[21]

Recognition

In 1989, Chico's FAS was listed in Inc. magazine's 500 fastest-growing, privately held companies in America. In 1993, Chico's FAS placed 13th on the BusinessWeek's list of the 100 Best Small Corporations.[2]

In 2001, Chico's FAS earned a place on Fortune's 100 Fastest-Growing Companies, BusinessWeek's 100 Best Small Companies, and the number one spot on Forbes’ 200 Best Small Companies.[22]

Management

Leadership

The current leadership is:

  • President and Chief Executive Officer, Director: Bonnie R. Brooks[23]
  • President, Apparel Group: Molly Langenstein[23]
  • President, Intimates Group: Mary van Praag[23]

Philanthropy

Chico's FAS and its brands participate in organizations helping women's and children's health, well-being, and education. Chico's FAS has partnered with Habitat for Humanity International[24] and Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC).

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Chico's FAS, Inc. 2018 Annual Report". Retrieved 2020-01-21.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Chico's FAS History".
  3. ^ "CHS Key Statistics - Chico's FAS Inc Financial Ratios".
  4. ^ a b "Chico's FAS Inc Form 8-k" (PDF).
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "History of Chico's FAS".
  6. ^ "Inclusion As A Growth Strategy Part 4: How To Personalize For Millions Of Customers". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  7. ^ "Chico's FAS Inc. News - New York Times".
  8. ^ "CANADA: Chico's WHBM embarks on international expansion".
  9. ^ a b "Chico's FAS Announces International Expansion".
  10. ^ Valverde, Miriam. "Chico's sells women's clothing retailer Boston Proper". Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  11. ^ "Chico's launches new off-price website". Fashion Network. 2017-12-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Chico's FAS, Inc. Q4 2017 Earnings". SEC. 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  13. ^ "Stellar Partners unveils White House Black Market at Baltimore Washington Airport". The Moodie Davitt Report. 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  14. ^ "Stellar and MarketPlace upgrade travel retail offer at Philadelphia Airport | Travel Retail Business". Trbusiness. 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2020-03-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "Chico's FAS Inc. - Our Brands".
  16. ^ "How to Shop Chico's".
  17. ^ "Chico's FAS, Inc. Completes the Acquisition of The White House, Inc".
  18. ^ "White House Black Market - Shop Women's Clothing Online".
  19. ^ "WhiteHouseBlackMarket".
  20. ^ a b "Soma's smart bra helps women find the right size". Engadget. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  21. ^ "Chico's Needs Younger Customers And TellTale Intimates Brand Is Its Start". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-02-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ "Retailers make the Forbes 200 best small companies list".
  23. ^ a b c Layden, Laura. "Chico's FAS appoints new CEO and president, announces other leadership changes". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  24. ^ "Drew and Jonathan Scott, TV's 'Property Brothers,' join Habitat for Humanity and Nissan to kick off month-long Home is the Key campaign". Nissan Online Newsroom. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
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