Formerly called
|
Ann Taylor Stores (1954–2011) |
---|---|
Subsidiary | |
Industry | Retail |
Founded | 1954 |
Founder | Richard Liebeskind |
Headquarters |
Times Square Tower, New York City, New York, U.S. |
Key people
|
Ronald Hovsepian (Chairman) Katherine Krill (President, CEO, and Director) Michael Nicholson EVP, CFO, COO, and Treasurer |
Revenue | US$248.8 Million (2Q 2014) |
US$54.9 Million (2Q 2014) | |
US$32.7 Million (2Q 2014) | |
Total assets | US$998.842 Million (2Q 2014) |
Total equity | US$474.618 Million (2Q 2014) |
Number of employees
|
19,900 (Jan 2012) |
Parent |
Ascena Retail Group (2015–present) |
Divisions | Ann Taylor LOFT Lou & Grey Ann Taylor Factory LOFT Outlet |
Website |
Ann Inc. (corporate) www.anntaylor.com www.loft.com [1] |
Ann Inc. is an American group of specialty apparel retail chain stores for women. The company headquartered in New York City and operates as a subsidiary of Ascena Retail Group. The stores offer classic styled suits, separates, dresses, shoes and accessories. The brand is marketed under five divisions: Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lou & Grey, Ann Taylor Factory and LOFT Outlet.
Richard Liebeskind, the founder of Ann Taylor, opened his first Ann Taylor store in New Haven, Connecticut in 1954. "Ann Taylor" was the name of a best-selling dress at Liebskind's father's store. Both the best-selling dress and the name Ann Taylor were given by the father to his son, Richard Liebeskind, for good luck. Liebeskind decided to go with the name Ann Taylor because Ann was considered a very New England name, and Taylor evoked the image of tailored clothing. The name supposedly created the ideal identity of classic women's apparel.
In May 1991, the company completed an initial public offering resulting in aggregate net proceeds of approximately $166.5 million.
In March 2011, the company changed its name to Ann Inc., from Ann Taylor Stores Corporation. As of October 27, 2012, the total store count was 981: of 278 Ann Taylor stores, 101 Ann Taylor Factory stores, 510 LOFT stores, and 92 LOFT Outlet stores, as well as online at AnnTaylor.com and LOFT.com.
On May 18, 2015 Ascena Retail Group announced a $2.16 billion acquisition of Ann Inc. The buyout was completed on August 21, 2015. Ann Inc. will operate as an Ascena Retail Group subsidiary going forward.
Ann Taylor is a chain of clothing stores for women. Ann Taylor stores compete in the "better" category, with clothing targeted at affluent career women. Ann Taylor was founded in 1954.
LOFT, originally Ann Taylor LOFT, was established in 1996 as an extension of the original Ann Taylor brand, offers more relaxed fashions for work and home, in the "upper moderate" priced category. The selection provided at Loft initially was a more casual replica to that of the regular Ann Taylor, however has developed into its own brand, and now carries a unique style to cater to a new and younger crowd.
Lou & Grey sells active-wear fashion.
Ann Taylor Factory, offers reduced prices, as well as Ann Taylor Factory merchandise. The company is now moving away from Ann Taylor Factory clearance stores and are changing their stores to carry Ann Taylor Factory merchandise.