Hot Topic

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Hot Topic, Inc.
Type Public (NASDAQ: HOTT)
Founded 1988 by Orv Madden
Headquarters Industry, California
Key people Betsy McLaughlin, CEO (2000-present); Bruce Quinell, Chairman of the Board
Industry retail
Products clothing, accessories, music
Revenue ▲ US$761 Million (FY 2009)[1]
Operating income ▲ US$32.5 Million (FY 2009)[1]
Net income ▲ US$19.7 Million (FY 2009)[1]
Total assets ▲ US$371 Million (FY 2009) [2]
Total equity ▲ US$258 Million (FY 2009)[2]
Website hottopic.com

Hot Topic (NASDAQ: HOTT) is an American retail chain specializing in music and pop culture-related clothing and accessories, including licensed music recordings. As of April, 2008, Hot Topic had 688 locations in the United States and six stores in Puerto Rico, the majority of which are located in regional shopping malls.[3] The first Hot Topic store was opened in 1988 by Orv Madden, who retired as CEO in 2000 and was replaced by Betsy McLaughlin. The company went public and began trading on NASDAQ in 1996. In 2006 Hot Topic was named number 53 on Fortune 500's Top Companies To Work For list.[4].

Contents

[edit] Product assortment and sales

Approximately 30% of Hot Topic's revenue comes from selling licensed band t-shirts.[3] Hot Topic often negotiates exclusive licensing arrangements with musical artists, movie studios, and graphic artists. Fashion apparel for men and women is featured prominently in stores, with products from Lip Service, Morbid Threads, Disney, Sanrio, Psychopathic Records, Social Collision, Heartcore Clothing, Iron Fist, Nintendo, Twilight, Harry Potter, and more recently, New Moon merchandise.

Up to 50% of Hot Topic's sales are generated by accessories, including sunglasses, private label body jewelry, hosiery, make-up, licensed band stickers and other miscellaneous pop culture items. Accessories generate the most significant amount of profit for the company. Hot Topic drives the profit margin by the use of cross merchandising and suggestive selling.

[edit] Torrid division

Main article: Torrid

In 2001, Hot Topic launched Torrid, a concept store geared toward young, plus size women.[5] Torrid stores are currently carrying brands such as BabyPhat, House of Dereon, Dickies, Z. Cavaricci and Apple Bottoms.

[edit] Websites

Main article: ShockHound

In 2008, Hot Topic launched ShockHound, an online retailer and social networking music site. The site features music downloads, interviews and exclusive content. Hot Topic's original website, hottopic.com was launched in 1997, and ships products to approximately 100 countries.

[edit] Tour sponsorship

The company has sponsored the 2004 Ozzfest concert tour,[6] the 2005 through 2007 Sounds of the Underground tour[7] ,the 2008 Taste of Chaos tour,[8] and have a stage and sponsor the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.[9]

[edit] Hot Topic Foundation

The Hot Topic Foundation was formed at the California Community Foundation in 2004, focusing on encouraging children and youth in the pursuit of music and the arts. It has granted approximately $4 million to more than 70 organizations throughout the U.S.[10] Recipients have included the Chicago International Children's Film Festival,[11] Little Kids Rock,[12] Heart of Los Angeles,[13] MIND Institute,[14] the Chicago Humanities Festival,[15][16] Rock Against Cancer,[16][17] Inner-City Arts, Big Thought, IFP Chicago, Spy Hop Productions, Footlights Inc., Carolina Studios Corp and the KIPP Bayview Academy.[16] Money is raised through sales of guitar picks, exclusive music compilations, mints, and reusable shopping bags.[18]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Hot Topic (HOTT) annual SEC income statement filing via Wikinvest
  2. ^ a b Hot Topic (HOTT) annual SEC balance sheet filing via Wikinvest
  3. ^ a b "Hot Topic Annual Report 2007" (pdf). Hot Topic, Inc.. 2008-04-28. http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/12/120007/2007_annual_report_2.pdf. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
  4. ^ "100 Best Companies To Work For 2006". Fortune 500. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2006/full_list/. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
  5. ^ http://dir.salon.com/story/mwt/feature/2005/04/06/torrid/print.html
  6. ^ Ratliff, B (2004-07-16). "Rock Review: Ozzfest Trudges On, Laden With Sponsors and Politics". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A04E1DC143AF935A25754C0A9629C8B63. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
  7. ^ "Official Website". Sounds of the Underground. http://www.soundsoftheundergroundtour.com/. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
  8. ^ Peters, M (2007-12-20). "Avenged Sevenfold, Atreyu Set For Taste Of Chaos". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003687886. 
  9. ^ http://www.rockstar69.com/event.php?evt=53
  10. ^ "California Community Foundation - Hot Topic Foundation". California Community Foundation. http://www.calfund.org/8/giving_hottopic.php?PHPSESSID=6cf69889ee99f9ae15903d89900d2a09. 
  11. ^ "CICFF Home". http://cicff2008.org/. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
  12. ^ "Little Kids Rock: Music Matters". http://www.littlekidsrock.org/. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
  13. ^ "Support HOLA - Sponsors". http://heartofla.org/performing-arts. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
  14. ^ "MIND Institute Annual Report" (pdf). 2007-12-31. pp. 7. http://www.mindinstitute.net/pdf/MI08_Annual_Report_Lres.pdf. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
  15. ^ "Chicago Humanities Festival 2008 Annual Report" (pdf). 2008-02-29. http://www.chfestival.org/resources/content/AnReport08_web1.pdf. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
  16. ^ a b c "Hot Topic Foundation - Charities". http://community.hottopic.com/htfoundation/charities.asp. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
  17. ^ Albin, A (2008-05-29). "Rock Against Cancer and Hot Topic Foundation Support Music Therapy Program at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA". UCLA Health System. http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm?id=403&action=detail&ref=1028. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
  18. ^ "Hot Topic Foundation". http://community.hottopic.com/htfoundation/. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Topic"
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