A. J. Wright

Infobox_Company | company_name = A.J. Wright | company_| company_type = Subsidiary of TJX Companies | foundation = 1998 | location = Framingham, MA
industry = Retail | slogan = "The Deal. For Real."
products = Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, and housewares. | homepage = [http://www.aj-wright.com/ www.aj-wright.com] |

A.J. Wright is a chain of about 129cite web|url=http://www.tjx.com/about/ajwright.html|title=About Our Company - A.J. Wright|publisher=TJX Companies|accessdate=2007-01-20] American retail/outlet stores established in 1998 and owned by TJX Companies. Like its sister company T.J. Maxx, A.J. Wright sells clothing, domestics, giftware, footwear, accessories, and fragrances at prices between twenty and seventy percent below regular prices.cite web|url=http://www.aj-wright.com/about.asp|title=A.J. Wright About Us|publisher=A.J. Wright|accessdate=2007-01-20] A.J. Wright differs from other TJX chains by refreshing its merchandise on a regular basis. For most stores, new shipments arrive every weekday.

Although A.J. Wright's primary target market is moderate-income families, its recent expansion has drawn additional consumer groups. The company's community service strategy centers on monetary donations to the Boys and Girls Club of America and other affiliates. [cite web|url=http://www.aj-wright.com/community.asp|title=A.J. Wright Community|publisher=A.J. Wright|accessdate=2007-01-20]

History

A.J. Wright opened its first six stores in the northeastern region of the United States in the fall of 1998.cite web|url=http://sec.edgar-online.com/1999/04/29/15/0000950135-99-002215/Section2.asp|title=TJX Annual Report (Regulation S-K, item 405) (10-K405) ITEM 1. BUSINESS|publisher=Edgar Online|accessdate=2007-01-21] The first three stores – located in the towns of Brockton, Somerville, and Malden, Massachusetts – were opened simultaneously on September 20 of that year.cite web|date=1998-10-05|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_1998_Oct_5/ai_53076020|title=TJX opens first three A.J. Wright locations (Discount Store News)|publisher=Lebhar-Friedman, Inc. and Gale Group|accessdate=2007-01-21] During the initial openings, Johnson & Wales University's marketing director, Mark Neckes, approved of A.J. Wright; he stated that A.J. Wright strengthens TJX's coverage of urban markets, an area "where people need a place to shop [and] a place where retailers understand what people are looking for".

A.J. Wright continued to open new stores as its customer base increased. By 2000, A.J. Wright operated 25 stores across the United States; by December 2001, the number had increased to 40. [cite web|date=2001=12-10|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FNP/is_23_40/ai_80756369|title=Resilient Record Bodes Well For Off-Price Leader - The Super Growth Leaders - TJX Cos - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included|publisher=FindArticles|accessdate=2007-01-21] The chain opened an additional 112 stores by the end of 2005, bringing its total to 152; however, this number will fluctuate due to store closures. In 2006, one business article stated that A.J. Wright was "in the red" and that TJX needed to "figure out the future of its newer divisions, the less profitable A.J. Wright and HomeGoods stores and the non-off-price Bob’s Stores".cite web|date=2006-05-29|url=http://wbjournal.com/j/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=282&Itemid=128|title=Taking TJX back to the max|publisher=Worcester Business Journal|accessdate=2007-01-21] Therefore, the company chose to focus on lowering the rapid expansion of the chain.

On November 30, 2006, TJX announced the closure of 34 underproducing stores.cite web|date=2006-11-30|url=http://www.retailnet.com/story.cfm?ID=33090|title=TJX to close 34 A.J. Wright stores|publisher=Lebhar-Friedman, Inc.|accessdate=2007-01-20] According to a TJX 10-Q on December 1, 2006, the closures were determined by "several factors, including market demographics and proximity to other A.J. Wright stores, cash return, sales volume and productivity, recent comparable store sales and profit trends, and overall market performance". [cite web|date=2006-12-01|url=http://ir.10kwizard.com/filing.php?repo=tenk&ipage=4521677&doc=1&num=22&total=35&source=487|title=TJX Investor Information - SEC Filings|publisher=TJX Companies|accessdate=2007-01-12] Employees were provided with severance packages or offers to transfer to other A.J. Wright or TJX stores. [cite web|date=2006-12-07|url=http://www.syracuse.com/business/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/business-6/1165053306247890.xml&coll=1|title=Dollar General won't cut rural ties|publisher=The Post-Standard|accessdate=2007-01-20] Ben Cammarata, CEO of TJX Companies, stated:citeweb|date=2006-11-30|url=http://news.morningstar.com/news/ViewNews.asp?article=/BW/20061130005476_univ.xml&pgid=qtqnPress4|title=The TJX Companies, Inc. Reports In-Line November 2006 Sales; Repositions A.J. Wright Division for Future Growth|publisher=Business Wire|accessdate=2007-01-20]

The tentative closure date for the stores was January 27, 2007. Because of closing expenses, TJX expected to include a reduction of $37 million in their fourth quarter 2006 net income statement. On February 21, 2007, TJX reported that the net income had fallen from $288.7 million the previous year to $205.5 million; the reduction included the $37 million closing expenses.citeweb|date=2007-02-31|url=http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/21/news/companies/tjx.reut/index.htm|title=TJX's net income slips|publisher=CNN Money.com|accessdate=2007-02-22] citeweb|date=2007-02-31|url=http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=184208|title=TJX profit declines, weighed by charge from closing stores|publisher=Boston Herald.com|accessdate=2007-02-22] The company expects to open about ten new stores by 2008.

During this period, the TJX database was hacked and customer information was compromised. [cite web|date=2007-01-18|url=http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070118/WDH0101/70118125/1981|title=Banks replace check cards after hacking at T.J. Maxx|publisher=Wausau Daily Herald|accessdate=2007-01-21] [cite web|date=2007-01-18|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,128566-c,cybercrime/article.html|title=PC World - Retailer Reports Massive Data Theft|publisher=PC World|accessdate=2007-01-21] Although TJX originally stated that the security breach occurred between May 2006 and January 2007, the company discovered that the database had also been compromised in 2005.

logans

* "Part of your family. Part of your community."
* "More of what you like, for less."

References

ee also

*BJ's Wholesale Club
*Home Club
*Zayre

External links

* [http://www.aj-wright.com/ A.J. Wright Official Website]
* [http://www.tjx.com/ TJX Companies Official Website]
* [http://www.quantcast.com/aj-wright.com Demographics breakdown for the company website]