Express (store)

Infobox_Company
company_name = Express, LLC
company_
type = Private
foundation = 1981
location = Columbus, Ohio
key_people = Michael Weiss, CEO
industry = Retail
homepage = [http://www.express.com/ Express]

EXPRESS is an American clothing company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Among the stores and brands with which Express competes is Guess?, Banana Republic, and Calvin Klein, Seven for all Mankind, Ralph Lauren, and Diesel S.p.A.. As of August 2006, Express operates 700 stores in the United States, with annual net sales over $2 billion.

tyles and corporate history

Although primarily associated with women's clothes, Express is a dual-gender brand. Some of the styles that Express is known for are its Editor Pants for women, IMX dress shirts for men as well as Express Jeans for both genders (formerly X2 denim).

In 2006, Express introduced the King of Prides collection for men, which includes premium denim, and ultra-premium t-shirts and hoodies starting at US$60. The collection competes with independent luxury t-shirt makers like Affliction Clothing, Aqua VI, and Monarchy.

In April 2008, Express released a limited women's collection designed by Celia Birtwell.

Express is no longer part of Limited Brands. On May 15, 2007, Limited Brands announced its intent to sell a 67% stake in Express to an affiliate of a private equity firm called Golden Gate Capital Partners. When the deal was completed, Golden Gate's stake in the company was 75% instead of the announced 67%.

Express clothes are designed at the Express Design Studio on 111 Fifth Avenue New York, New York in Manhattan's Flatiron District.

Criticism and Controversy

Express' return policy has been a source of controversy. [http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041228/news_1b28returns.html] The policy stated that the original receipt(s) and a valid form of identification (driver's license, state, military, passport, or any type of government issued ID) within a 90 day limit. The ID was used to count how frequent a customer makes a return or exchange. If a customer makes multiple returns or exchanges, within a certain period of time she will be denied a return. [http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041228/news_1b28returns.html] This system was used to prevent fraudulent returns or exchanges. As of 2008, however, returns with a receipt no longer require a valid ID and therefore cannot be denied on account of excessive returns. Returns without a receipt still require a valid ID and may be denied.

tructure

In 2001, Structure, a Limited Brands division, was consolidated into the company as ExpressMen. Structure was a line of wear-to-work and casual wear clothing for men, which began in Express stores. By 1993, the line had become popular enough that Limited Brands instituted it as an independent division. Due to sagging sales, however, Limited brought Structure back under Express management in 2001, making Express a dual-gender brand. In 2003, after the closing or re-branding of all Structure stores, the Structure brand name was sold to Sears.

References