Express, Inc.
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2010) |
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1980[1] |
| Headquarters | Columbus, Ohio |
Key people | Michael Weiss, CEO |
| Website | Express |
EXPRESS is an American fashion retailer headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Express operates over 550 stores in the United States and generates $1.8 billion in annual sales.[2]
History
The first Express store was opened in 1980 (as Limited Express), in the Chicago Water Tower. Current CEO Michael Weiss joined the brand in 1981 when the test expanded to include eight stores. By 1986, Express had 250 stores strong and began testing the sale of men’s merchandise in 16 stores the following year. The men’s fashion line was spun off into its own brand, Structure, in 1989.
In 2001, Express became a dual gender brand once again with the reintegration of Structure as Express Men. Dual gender Express stores began opening the following year.
Express as a privately-held company
On May 15, 2007, Limited Brands announced its intent to sell a 67% stake in Express to an affiliate of a private equity firm called Golden Gate Capital Partners, based in San Francisco. When the sale was finalized in July 2007, Golden Gate's stake in the company was 75% instead of the announced 67%.
In 2010, it announced plans for a $200 million IPO.[3]
Styles
Although primarily associated with women's clothes, Express is a dual-gender brand.
In 2006, Express introduced the King of Prides collection for men, which includes denim, t-shirts, and hooded sweaters.
In 2005, Express introduced a denim line, with a stitching on the back pockets called DPD.
In April 2008, Express released a limited women's collection designed by Celia Birtwell. More recently, in early 2009, replacing the discontinued DPD jeans; Express introduced its newest denim line, Rerocks, in both women and in men. Just like the DPD jeans, Rerocks also have stitching on the back pockets and the materials are different.
In 2009, Express denim line was expanded with its extra low rise Zelda jeans as well as introducing two new styles. One is a women's denim, barely bootcut in either the low rise Zelda or the regular rise Stella. The other is the men's denim, Zach which is a skinny leg.
Express jeans come in different washes from darkest to lightest and fits from loose to tight.
For women's denim: Eva styles: plus sizes with a regular rise Mia styles (limited style): high waist rise Zelda styles: ultra low rise Stella styles: mid rise jeans
For men's denim: Blake styles: loose fit Kingston styles: classic fit, tighter fitting than the Blake and looser than the Rocco or Zach. Rocco styles: slim fit Zach styles: the male version of the skinny jean
Express clothes are designed at the Express Design Studio on 111 Fifth Avenue New York, New York in Manhattan's Flatiron District.
Criticism and controversy
Express' return policy has been a source of controversy.[4] The original policy required that the original receipt(s) and a valid form of identification (driver's license, state, military, passport, or any type of government issued ID) must be presented within a 90 day limit for returns. The ID was used to track how frequently a customer made returns or exchanges. If a customer made multiple returns or exchanges within a certain period of time, he or she would be denied a return.[4] This system was used to prevent fraudulent returns or exchanges. In 2008, returns with a receipt no longer require a valid ID, although throughout the New York and New Jersey area, one must still have a valid ID to make returns.[citation needed] Returns without a receipt require a valid ID and may be denied. As of March 2009, however, the original return policy has been reinstated.[citation needed]
References
- ^ http://www.express.com/custserv/about.jsp?pageName=FAQ
- ^ http://us.fashionmag.com/news-88427-Clothing-company-Express-files-for-200-million-IPO
- ^ http://us.fashionmag.com/news-88427-Clothing-company-Express-files-for-200-million-IPO
- ^ a b http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041228/news_1b28returns.html