Hot Topic
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|
| Private | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1988 by Orv Madden |
| Headquarters | Industry, California, USA |
|
Number of locations
|
642 (April 2011) |
|
Key people
|
Steve Vranes, CEO (2016–present) Betsy McLaughlin, CEO (2000–2011) Bruce Quinell, Chairman of the Board |
| Products | clothing, accessories, music |
| Revenue |
 US$761 million (FY 2009) |
|
US$32.5 million (FY 2009) |
|
|
US$19.7 million (FY 2009) |
|
| Total assets |
US$371 million (FY 2009) |
| Total equity |
US$258 million (FY 2009) |
| Divisions | Blackheart Lingerie BoxLunch |
| Website | www.hottopic.com |
Hot Topic (stylized as HOT TOPIC) is an American retail chain specializing in counterculture-related clothing and accessories, as well as licensed music. The stores are aimed towards an audience interested in music and gaming. Approximately 40% of Hot Topic's revenue comes from sales of licensed band T-shirts. Hot Topic often negotiates exclusive licensing arrangements with musical artists, movie studios, and graphic artists. The majority of the stores are located in regional shopping malls.
The first Hot Topic store was opened in 1988 by Orv Madden, who retired as CEO in 2000 and was replaced by Betsy McLaughlin, who headed the company until 2011. Lisa Harper assumed the position of CEO in March 2011 until Steve Vranes was announced as the new CEO in 2016. The company went public and began trading on NASDAQ in 1996.
In 2013, Hot Topic announced its sale to private equity firm Sycamore Partners for $600 million.
The store has been through a number of phases in its history, reflective of various alternative culture and pop culture (including geek culture) trends. In the early 2000s, the store was heavily known for marketing nu-metal merchandise related to bands such as Evanescence and Disturbed. During that period, the store was also known for its sales of controversial gel bracelets (often rumored to be "sex bracelets") as well as the equally controversial styles of phat pants-inspired bondage pants popular among teenagers in the late 1990s and early-to-mid 2000s.
The store later focused on skinny jeans and merchandise related to scene, emo and hardcore music and fashion. At present, the store's selection is largely focused on licensed video game merchandise and internet memes popular on sites such as tumblr, as well as anime and manga, and the associated otaku subculture.
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Wikipedia