Polo Ralph Lauren: Difference between revisions
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==South African Polo Trademark Issues== |
==South African Polo Trademark Issues== |
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The Polo brand as sold in South Africa is not affiliated with the Polo Ralph Lauren brand though the logos are remarkably similar. An independent South African company trademarked the Polo name and logo in South Africa prior to Ralph Lauren's attempt to globalize the brand. Based on the geographic nature of the trademark laws in South Africa of the time, Ralph Lauren's 1977 attempt to reclaim the brand and trademark was unsuccessful. It is now illegal to sell Polo Ralph Lauren clothing in South Africa because it would infringe on the trademark rights of the South African trademark holder. Many South African's are unaware of this distinction and buy items with the Polo brand which they associate with the global Polo Ralph Lauren brand. [[http://www.polosa. |
The Polo brand as sold in South Africa is not affiliated with the Polo Ralph Lauren brand though the logos are remarkably similar. An independent South African company trademarked the Polo name and logo in South Africa prior to Ralph Lauren's attempt to globalize the brand. Based on the geographic nature of the trademark laws in South Africa of the time, Ralph Lauren's 1977 attempt to reclaim the brand and trademark was unsuccessful. It is now illegal to sell Polo Ralph Lauren clothing in South Africa because it would infringe on the trademark rights of the South African trademark holder. Many South African's are unaware of this distinction and buy items with the Polo brand which they associate with the global Polo Ralph Lauren brand. [[http://www.polosa.com Polo South Africa]]<ref>http://www.buildingipvalue.com/06MENA/300_302.htm</ref> |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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Revision as of 11:09, 2 July 2010
| File:Polo Ralph Lauren logo.png | |
| Company type | Public (NYSE: RL) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | New York City, NY, U.S. |
Key people | Ralph Lauren, Chairman & CEO |
| Products | Apparel, Home, Gifts &, Fragrance |
| Revenue |  US$5.02 Billion (FY 2009)[1] |
| US$613 Million (FY 2009)[1] | |
| US$406 Million (FY 2009)[1] | |
| Total assets |  US$4.36 Billion (FY 2009) [2] |
| Total equity | US$2.74 Billion (FY 2009)[2] |
Number of employees | 12,800 (2006) |
| Website | www.ralphlauren.com |
 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. |
Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) is American fashion designer Ralph Lauren's luxury lifestyle company. Polo Ralph Lauren specializes in high-end casual/semi-formal wear for men and women, as well as accessories, fragrance, home (bedding, towels) and housewares. It has its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.[3]
History
The brand was launched in 1967 when Ralph Lauren, born Ralph Lifschitz, got a $50,000 loan. Prior to starting Ralph Lauren, he worked for Brooks Brothers. In 1968 he started a line of men's ties. By 1969 he had a boutique store within the Manhattan department store Bloomingdale's. In 1971, Polo Ralph Lauren launched its first women's collection and his first standalone store in Beverly Hills, California. Ten years later, in 1981, the brand went global with its first international store on London's New Bond Street. The Polo Sport line was introduced in 1993.[4] The company went public in 1997.
The brand now produces clothing, accessories, fragrances, furniture, operates the restaurant RL in Chicago, and sponsors a Harlem cancer center in association with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
As of 2009, Ralph Lauren or their licensing partners operated 163 full-price and 163 outlet/factory stores around the world (including Club Monaco and Rugby stores). The company's flagship store is located in the former Rhinelander Mansion on Madison Avenue in New York City. Other flagship stores are located in Chicago, East Hampton, London, Miami, Milan, Palm Beach, and Tokyo.[5]
The company's official web site and online shop were launched in 2000 as polo.com by RL Media, a cooperation between Ralph Lauren and NBC. In 2007, Ralph Lauren acquired the NBC share of RL Media and the web site was relaunched as ralphlauren.com.
Ralph Lauren is one of the largest retailers in the United States with revenues reaching $4.2 billion in 2007.[6]
Polo classics
One of the most famous pieces in the Polo line is the classic polo short-sleeved knit shirt featuring the Polo player on the left breast of the shirt. This shirt in particular became a fashion must-have in the 1980s with the preppy set. Other Polo classics include the cashmere cableknit sweater, chinos and the oxford cloth button-down shirt.
Brands
Since Ralph Lauren's first brand, Polo, was launched in 1967, the company has expanded to include a variety of luxury brands. They include:
Clothing for men
- Purple Label: Launched in 1994, this is Ralph Lauren's signature, and highest end men's line with classic, traditionally British styling. It includes ready-to-wear, suits and sportcoats (made by St. Andrews and Cantarelli), dress shirts, sportswear, accessories, and footwear, as well as a collection of made-to-order suits, sportcoats, shoes (made by British company Edward Green), dress shirts, exotic skin luggage, small leather goods, and jewelry. Purple Label is only available in Ralph Lauren stores, the company's online store and high-end department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale's.
- Black Label: Positioned just below Purple Label, Black Label for men tends to have a more modern, Italian cut to its suits and sportcoats (made by Raffaele Caruso of Parma), dress shirts, and sportswear, with higher armholes and a slimmer silhouette. Black Label was created in 2005 and is also only available in flagship Ralph Lauren stores, the company's online store and high-end department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, and Bloomingdale's.
- Polo Ralph Lauren: Polo is Ralph's original brand for men, and also the most widely available. This 'blue label' line spans from tailored clothing (ready-to-wear and made to measure, manufactured by Corneliani of Mantova), sportswear, accessories (including luggage) to small leather goods. Available at many department and specialty stores as well as Ralph Lauren stores and the company's online store.
- Polo Denim: A 2007 relaunch of the Polo Jeans Co. line of 1996. Denim basics within the Polo line, available online and in department stores.
- Polo Golf: A sporty collection catering to golfers since 1987 and often featuring celebrity golfers as advertising models (see Sports sponsorship below).[7]
- Lauren by Ralph Lauren ('Lauren for Men'): Basics and suiting. Divided into Green and Silver (slightly slimmer cuts) Label. Available primarily through department and outlet stores, and not at RL stores or ralphlauren.com.
Clothing for women
- Collection: The highest-end clothing line for women (which also carries a purple label), Ralph Lauren Collection is what walks the runway each fashion season. Collection is the ultimate expression of Ralph's Lifestyle vision for the season. The collection includes classic eveningwear, tailored blazers, outerwear, sportswear, handbags, Jewelry, and other small leather goods and accessories. Collection is sold exclusively through Ralph Lauren Boutiques and high-end department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale's.
- Black Label: An extension of the Collection line, with modern, high-end casual and semi-formal women's wear. Black Label clothing can be found at Ralph Lauren Boutiques and high-end department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale's.
- Blue Label: Introduced as Blue Label in 2002. Similar in price point and styling to the Polo men's line; has classic American styling. Knit polo-style shirts with the Polo pony are part of the Blue Label line. Blue Label is available exclusively through ralphlauren.com and through Polo Ralph Lauren stores, including factory outlet stores.
- Lauren by Ralph Lauren: Less pricey versions of Blue Label styles. Available at ralphlauren.com and higher-end department stores. Available in Plus sizes.
- RALPH by Ralph Lauren: A now discontinued line for younger women, created in 1999. Described in the history section of the company's web site as: "RALPH is the daughter of the Lauren woman—reasonably priced Ralph Lauren clothes for young women who want to be part of the lifestyle."[8]
- Ralph Lauren Golf: Golf attire collection for women. Launched in 1998.[7]
- Lauren Jeans Co.: The casual version of Lauren Ralph Lauren. Denim and casual basics available at ralphlauren.com and in department stores.
Clothing for men and women
- RLX ('Ralph Lauren Extreme'): A technical sports apparel line, focusing on clothing and outerwear built for outdoor sports such as tennis, golf, skiing, sailing, and hiking, launched in 1998. Primarily distributed through ralphlauren.com
- Polo Sport: A discontinued line of casual sports clothing that was introduced for men in 1993 and women in 1996. It was retired in 2005 and ultimately replaced by RLX as well as the Golf and Tennis lines. The Polo Sport fragrance lines continue to exist as remants of this label (see Fragrances below).
- Double RL (Written "RRL"): Ralph's vintage American sportswear line is inspired by his "RRL" ranch in Colorado. The line consist of the high-quality (and highly popular) denim, as well other casual sportswear with a vintage flair. Found mostly in RRL Stores and the occasional Ralph Lauren Boutique, this line of clothing is often immersed in a selection of hand-selected vintage clothing, accessories and art chosen specifically to emphasize the RRL lifestyle signature to Ralph Lauren.
- Rugby Ralph Lauren: A brand launched in 2004 focusing on collegiate apparel with a similar look to the pricier Polo and Blue Label brands. Sold at signature Rugby stores and through rugby.com. Not available at RL stores.
- Tennis: Sports clothing for tennis players. Special collections for the US Open tournaments (see Sports sponsorship below).
- Polo Jeans Co.: Denim inspired jeans and sportswear line. Discontinued in 2006, relaunched for European distribution in 2009.[9]
- Pink Pony: A charity line of sportswear and accessories all carrying a pink Polo pony. A portion of the proceeds benefit cancer research. Predominantly for women, the line also includes polo shirts for men.
- Create your own: A special collection of shirts, polos and hats as part of the Polo or Blue Label lines that can be monogrammed and individually arranged in terms of color and embroidery. Available at ralphlauren.com since 2003.
- Chaps: A line of "classic heritage and timeless aesthetic", which is "enduring and affordable" at providing clothing that contains "casual basics designed for versatility and ease of wear to smart, finely tailored silhouettes perfect for business and more formal occasions."[10] This line is exclusively available at Kohl's for women and for men's available at Kohl's for all sizes and Belk for standard men's sizes. This brand is licensed to be managed by Phillips-Van Heusen, and are "marketed at moderate price points" for the "updated traditional consumer".[11]
Clothing for children
- Ralph Lauren Children and Baby: Subdivided into Boys (sizes 2-7 and 8-20), Girls (sizes 2-6x and 7-16) and Baby (Layette and Infant, newborn to 24 months, boys and girls). Available at RL stores, ralphlauren.com and some department stores. Some childrenswear includes: shoes, clothing and accessories.
Home
- Ralph Lauren Home: A luxury home furnishings and accessories line, including furniture (manufactured by EJ Victor in the USA, Greengate in the UK), fabrics, tabletop, decorative accessories, bedding, bath, and paint. Sold to the trade and in Ralph Lauren stores, the company's online store as well as in select department stores.
- Lauren Home: An upscale home brand, carries only tabletop, accessories, bedding, and bath. Sold primarily through department stores.
- Ralph: A low priced and low thread-count line of urban bedding and bath towels available in the mid-1990s and subsequently discontinued.
- Ralph Lauren Paint: Featuring more than 500 colors, interior paint is offered at specialty retailers. Specialty retailers can be found at ralphlaurenpaint.com.
Luxury Standard
Ralph Lauren Boutiques pride themselves on their adherence to the unique and insurmountable aesthetic and lifestyle of Ralph himself, so it was no surprise when they introduced a selection of antique and vintage pieces displayed in tandem with the lifestyle apparel and accessories that define the brand. Most of the boutiques, especially the larger flagship stores, carry some of the unique pieces chosen by a team of specialists who travel the world in search of rare items with a distinct Ralph Lauren spirit. In 2009 a "Gift Vault" website was launched by the company to display the Brand's selection of its finest and most unique vintage and antique pieces found in its stores worldwide. The three collections, "Estate", "Americana", and "Hollywood Glamour" clearly define the styles of not only the vintage and antique pieces selected for the Gift Vault, but also of the lifestyles of the Ralph Lauren clothing itself.
In 2009, Ralph Lauren partnered with the Richemont Group to develop three lines of luxury watches under the Ralph Lauren name[12]. The Stirrup Collection, The Slim Classique Collection, and the Sporting Collection represent a diverse range of high-end watches that continue the Ralph Lauren aesthetic into the luxury horology sector. The watches start in price at $8,000.00 and climb as high as $64,000.00. The watches are sold exclusively through the Ralph Lauren Flagship Mansion in New York and will soon be showcased in the new Greenwich, CT Store. The exclusivity, Richemont technical sophistication, and classic Ralph Lauren design all contribute to the allure and value of these watches.
Other brands
The following labels are not immediately recognizable by the consumer as belonging to Polo Ralph Lauren, Inc.:
- Club Monaco: The brand’s signature clean and modern style gives classics an update through great design and a current sensibility. Club Monaco is the lifestyle destination for today’s urban professional.
- American Living: Classic, all-American collections including apparel for men, women and children as well as home sold exclusively at department store retailer JCPenney since January 2008.
- Ralph Lauren for TWA. A uniform designed by Ralph Lauren and introduced in 1978 was worn by TWA staff. Using basic designs from the USAF uniforms of the 50's. The uniform was later taken over by Rhodes corporate apparel.
Fragrances
Polo Ralph Lauren corporation has launched various fragrances and related body care products for men and women since 1978. The products are manufactured under license by L'Oreal.
| Men's fragrances | Women's fragrances | Men's and women's fragrances |
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Sports sponsorships
In 2006, Polo Ralph Lauren became the first Official Outfitter of Wimbledon, redesigning the outfits for ball boys and girls, line and court judges. The Wimbledon logo was adapted for this purpose. Ralph Lauren's Polo brand and style was used and a range of clothing for men and women was launched on June 26.[13]
In 2005, Polo Ralph Lauren and the USTA signed a four year partnership making Polo the official apparel sponsor of the US Open throughout 2008. All ball boys and girls, and on-court officials, were dressed in specially designed Ralph Lauren apparel.[14]
The company also sponsors US professional golfers Tom Watson, Jonathan Byrd, Davis Love III, and Luke Donald; as well as LPGA golfer Morgan Pressel.[15]
In April 2008, Polo Ralph Lauren won the U.S. Olympic contract to outfit the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team.[16] Roots Canada Ltd. had announced its ending as the official clothing supplier to the US Olympic team on April 7, 2008.
In July 2009, it was announced Polo Ralph Lauren will continue its partnership with the U.S. Olympic team for the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics.[17]
Licenses
To gain better control of the various brands Ralph Lauren has bought back in recent years many licenses granted in previous years. The company claims that all Ralph Lauren products, whether in-house produced or licensed, have been designed by Mr. Lauren and/or his design staff. As of 2009 product licensing partners for the U.S. market include L'Oreal (perfume and cosmetics), Peerless, Inc. (Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Ralph, Chaps and American Living tailored menswear), Warnaco Group (Chaps sportswear), HanesBrands (mens Polo underwear) and Luxottica Group (eyewear). All of the 'home' products in the various Ralph Lauren lines are produced by licensing partners. Internationally, entire regions have been provided with the right to sell Ralph Lauren merchandise and operate branded stores: Australia/New Zealand (Oroton Group), Central America (PRL Enterprises), Korea (Doosan Corporation) and Hong Kong / Southeast Asia (Dickson Concepts). All domestic Ralph Lauren stores are operated by Ralph Lauren. Internationally some RL stores are operated by Ralph Lauren, about 90 are operated by licensing partners.
South African Polo Trademark Issues
The Polo brand as sold in South Africa is not affiliated with the Polo Ralph Lauren brand though the logos are remarkably similar. An independent South African company trademarked the Polo name and logo in South Africa prior to Ralph Lauren's attempt to globalize the brand. Based on the geographic nature of the trademark laws in South Africa of the time, Ralph Lauren's 1977 attempt to reclaim the brand and trademark was unsuccessful. It is now illegal to sell Polo Ralph Lauren clothing in South Africa because it would infringe on the trademark rights of the South African trademark holder. Many South African's are unaware of this distinction and buy items with the Polo brand which they associate with the global Polo Ralph Lauren brand. [Polo South Africa][18]
Notes
- ^ a b c Polo Ralph Lauren (RL) annual SEC income statement filing via Wikinvest
- ^ a b Polo Ralph Lauren (RL) annual SEC balance sheet filing via Wikinvest
- ^ "Contact Us." Ralph Lauren Investor Relations. Retrieved on January 27, 2010.
- ^ http://about.polo.com/history/history.asp
- ^ Ralph Lauren Store Locations - Stores.RalphLauren.com
- ^ http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2008/snapshots/10652.html
- ^ a b RL To Present Fall 2008 Golf Collections at PGA Merchandise Show golfbusinesswire.com
- ^ About Ralph Lauren: 1999 www.ralphlauren.com
- ^ Drapers Interview with Brian Duffy, European President of Polo Ralph Lauren
- ^ Annual Report 2009 page 9
- ^ Annual Report PVH 2009 Page 9
- ^ http://www.luxist.com/2009/01/22/ralph-lauren-watches-part-1-the-stirrup-collection/
- ^ Los Angeles Times p.D4
- ^ Appelbaum p.40
- ^ Business Wire
- ^ reportonbusiness.com: Marketing
- ^ Eddie Pells (July 2, 2009). "US team to wear Polo again at Olympic ceremonies". Associated Press. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
- ^ http://www.buildingipvalue.com/06MENA/300_302.htm
References
- Appelbaum, Michael (2005-03-14), "Tennis Apparel, Anyone?", Brandweek, p. 40
- "Ralph Lauren to Outfit Players at Wimbledon", Los Angeles Times, pp. D.4, 2006-06-18
- "Polo Ralph Lauren to Sponsor Morgan Pressel", Business Wire, p. 1, 2006-03-15
External links
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