Hanna Andersson
Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Retail |
Founded | 1983 |
Founder | Gun Denhart, Tom Denhart |
Headquarters | Portland, Oregon, USA |
Key people | Joelle Maher (CEO) |
Products | Children's clothing |
Owner | L Catterton |
Number of employees | 400[1] |
Website | www.hannaandersson.com |
Hanna Andersson is a Portland, Oregon-based corporation that specializes in children's apparel. The company operates mail-order, online, and retail stores in the United States.
History
In 1983, Swedish-born Gun Denhart founded the company in Portland, Oregon, in the garage of her home.[2] The company began as an exclusively mail-order catalog retailer; Hanna Andersson mailed out its first catalog in 1984.[3] Co-founder Tom Denhart would remain the company's creative director until 1995.[4] The first brick-and-mortar store opened in 1990,[5] and to-date there are currently over 60 retail locations operating in 24 states throughout the United States.[6]
In 1995, the Denharts hired Phil Iosca as CEO/President. He refocused the company on young children's apparel.[7] Then, in 2001, the Denharts sold the company for $175 million.[8] Following the initial sale, Hanna Andersson was sold to a succession of private equity firms and purchased by Sun Capital Partners. Gun Denhart remained on the Board of Directors until 2007. When Iosca retired in 2010, then-COO Adam Stone was named the new CEO of the company.[9][10]
In August 2016, Hanna Andersson was sold to L Catterton for an undisclosed amount. The company's executive team was kept intact.[11]
Philanthropy and company policies
The company has received notable attention over the years due to Denhart's advocacy of progressive workplace policies. Denhart's initiatives included family-friendly employment policies in support of work-family balance and the charitable donation of 5% of the company's pre-tax profits to groups working for children's welfare.[12] These efforts, along with Denhart's other work, led the Oregon Commission of Women to name her the "Woman of Achievement" for 2013.[13] The company's "HannaHelps" program also garnered attention for awarding yearly grants to schools and non-profit groups serving children throughout the United States.[14]
Products
Hanna Andersson manufactures clothing for babies, toddlers, kids, and women.[15] Over 60% of the company's products are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified and many items are made with organic cotton.[16] In 2014, the company expanded its offerings to include home décor and bedding.[17] Most recently, the company expanded its women's collection to include maternity apparel.[18]
References
- ^ "Hanna Andersson Corporate History". Fundingverse. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
- ^ "Threshold Group Board of Directors". Threshold Group. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
- ^ "Hanna Andersson Corp. History". FundingVerse. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
- ^ "Hanna Andersson co-founder dies at 67". OregonLive. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
- ^ "Hanna Andersson Corp. History". Funding Universe.
- ^ "Leading Children's Apparel Retailer Hanna Andersson And Rising A Reader Continue Partnership To Support Children's Literacy". News9.
- ^ "If at first you don't succeed". Portland Business Journal. 2000-01-30. Retrieved 2014-09-08.
- ^ "Gun Denhart talks impact investing". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
- ^ "Hanna Andersson Company Profile". Sun Capital Partners. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
- ^ "Changing for Good: The Case of Hanna Andersson Corporation". An Introduction to Organizational Behavior. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
- ^ "L Catterton buys children's clothing brand Hanna Andersson - PE HUB". 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
- ^ "Too Good to Be True? Is creating the ideal workplace hazardous to your business' health?". INC. 1994-07-01. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
- ^ "Gun Denhart named Woman of Achievement for 2013 by the Oregon Commission for Women". OregonLive. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
- ^ "Who is Hanna?". Elephant Journal. 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
- ^ "Company Overview of Hanna Andersson, LLC". Bloomberg.
- ^ "Safe Baby Clothing Guide". Gimme The Good Stuff.
- ^ "Hanna Andersson Add Kids' Home Decor To Its Children's Clothing Line". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2014-11-17.
- ^ "Scoopworthy 1/14/16". Tot Scoop Blog. Retrieved 2016-01-14.