Anthropologie store in Glendale, California.
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Subsidiary | |
Industry | Retail |
Founded | 1992 |
Founder | Richard Hayne |
Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Number of locations
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216 (September 2015) |
Key people
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David McCreight (CEO) |
Products |
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Parent |
Urban Outfitters (1992–present) |
Website | anthropologie |
Anthropologie is an American clothing retailer that currently operates over 200 stores worldwide featuring a curated assortment of clothing, jewelry, intimates, home furniture and décor, beauty and gifts.
Anthropologie is part of URBN brands, which includes Urban Outfitters, Free People, BHLDN and Terrain.
In 1970, Dick Hayne and Scott Belair were in need of a project for an entrepreneurial class they were taking in college. Both of them decided to open a retail store called, Free People. Later on after opening up another store, Urban Outfitters, a close friend of Dick Hayne's came to him with a problem. Where she was living, Philadelphia, did not have enough clothing store options for her sense of style. Hayne then came up with the idea of Anthropologie in hopes of giving creative, educated and affluent 30-45 year-old women a place to shop in a store that reflects her personal style. So, autumn of 1992, Anthropologie opened in Wayne, Pennsylvania. This first free standing store was opened in an automobile shop that had been refurbished. As technology continued and the store becoming a success, something needed to be done in order to cater to all customers. Therefore, in 1998 the brand launched a mail-order catalog, which doubled its subscriptions within in a year. To further customer access, that same year Anthropologie launched a website.
While internet sales are increasing, so are the physical storefronts. In 2009, Anthropologie opened its first international store in London, England. This brand followed the other brands in URBN to expand to the United Kingdom. Currently there are over 200 retail stores throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In some of the new stores built in recent years, there has been a petite shop and dining options in the store.
Anthropologie has been trying to lend a helping hand in their community. By pairing up with nonprofit partners, like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, ACHIEVEable, and many more, the brand is trying to make the community a better place. The company also puts on do it yourself, or DIY, projects, birthday parties, and even fashion shows to cater to all types of customers. Through art and creativity, the goal of spreading goodwill can be accomplished.