Charming Shoppes acquired by Ascena Retail Group

Webmaster · 06-18-2012, 08:30 AM

Charming Shoppes has been bought out by the Ascena Retail Group, which already owns the Dress Barn, Maurices, and Justice women's apparel stores. Since Charming Shoppes owns Lane Bryant, Catherine's Plus Sizes and the Fashion Bug, Ascena will pretty much control women's apparel, with a total of almost 4,000 stores.

This means that plus-size customers better hope Ascena has a real interest in the plus-size market. Ascena already announced it will close the Fashion Bug stores. The CEO of Ascena said, "The Lane Bryant and Catherine’s businesses are extremely complementary to our other concepts and we expect them to integrate seamlessly. Though this process will take time, we believe there is an excellent opportunity to streamline the business, capture efficiencies and to share resources."

Tad · 06-18-2012, 09:28 AM

Ugh. I mean, it could be good, but when the small chain that ran Addition-Elle--at the time the dominant 'mall' retailer of plus-size women's clothes up here in Canada--got bought out by a larger women's wear conglamerate, it was not so great. Addition-Elle shut down in malls and moved to big-box/outlet/strip-mall type locations, and lost much of what stylish edge is formerly had. It really felt like that the new owners had no interest in the character of the store, they just wanted the name and the mailing list, and assumed that they had such a captive audience that they could cut costs and people would still be forced to shop there, happy or not.

I hope the outcome for Lane Bryant is more favorable.

bigmac · 06-18-2012, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tad

...

I hope the outcome for Lane Bryant is more favorable.

A favorable outcome is unlikely -- there seems to be an inverse relationship between the size of a conglomerate and the quality of its products.

irish_redhead · 06-18-2012, 09:44 PM

FFS.

I just recently discovered that lb.com is shipping to Canada again. I hope the new direction doesn't screw with that.

HereticFA · 06-20-2012, 07:42 AM

you compete against the next larger business with similar products. So Ascena Retail Group now competes against Wal-Mart. Definitely Not Smart!

In other news, dozens of potential entrepreneurs realize the marketplace for large women's fashions is actually opening up across the United States for small scale retailers that focus on quality clothes and personal rapport with their customers. Stay tuned...

ampleampleample · 06-20-2012, 08:31 AM

Sasha is into this business, would like to hear her opinion.

bigsexy920 · 06-23-2012, 10:22 AM

Its been big news for us at "Charming" Sad thing is Fashion Bug will be gone eventually. which for many employees is a bad thing. Hopefully some will be absorbed in to the remaning and new stores.

BBW MeganLynn44DD · 06-23-2012, 03:25 PM

Let's just hope they don't change Lane Bryant too much,I've been pretty happy lately going shopping and would be really upset if things changed!

06-18-2012, 08:30 AM	#1
Webmaster The Chief Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA area Posts: 5,704	Charming Shoppes acquired by Ascena Retail Group Charming Shoppes has been bought out by the Ascena Retail Group, which already owns the Dress Barn, Maurices, and Justice women's apparel stores. Since Charming Shoppes owns Lane Bryant, Catherine's Plus Sizes and the Fashion Bug, Ascena will pretty much control women's apparel, with a total of almost 4,000 stores. This means that plus-size customers better hope Ascena has a real interest in the plus-size market. Ascena already announced it will close the Fashion Bug stores. The CEO of Ascena said, "The Lane Bryant and Catherine’s businesses are extremely complementary to our other concepts and we expect them to integrate seamlessly. Though this process will take time, we believe there is an excellent opportunity to streamline the business, capture efficiencies and to share resources."

06-18-2012, 09:28 AM	#2
Tad mostly harmless Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 9,843	Ugh. I mean, it could be good, but when the small chain that ran Addition-Elle--at the time the dominant 'mall' retailer of plus-size women's clothes up here in Canada--got bought out by a larger women's wear conglamerate, it was not so great. Addition-Elle shut down in malls and moved to big-box/outlet/strip-mall type locations, and lost much of what stylish edge is formerly had. It really felt like that the new owners had no interest in the character of the store, they just wanted the name and the mailing list, and assumed that they had such a captive audience that they could cut costs and people would still be forced to shop there, happy or not. I hope the outcome for Lane Bryant is more favorable. __________________ “I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity." --Eleanor Roosevelt

06-18-2012, 09:44 PM	#4
irish_redhead Shop-o-holic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 150	FFS. I just recently discovered that lb.com is shipping to Canada again. I hope the new direction doesn't screw with that. __________________ Warning: insomnia has been known to cause strong opinons, incoherent ramblings and compulsive shopping.

06-20-2012, 07:42 AM	#5
HereticFA I'm Bluetooth enabled. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 407	If you buy up the competition, you compete against the next larger business with similar products. So Ascena Retail Group now competes against Wal-Mart. Definitely Not Smart! In other news, dozens of potential entrepreneurs realize the marketplace for large women's fashions is actually opening up across the United States for small scale retailers that focus on quality clothes and personal rapport with their customers. Stay tuned...

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06-20-2012, 08:31 AM	#6
ampleampleample Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 47	Sasha is into this business, would like to hear her opinion.

06-23-2012, 10:22 AM	#7
bigsexy920 Ok I'll be good. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New Jersey- Jersey Girls..... Best in the world Posts: 4,455	Its been big news for us at "Charming" Sad thing is Fashion Bug will be gone eventually. which for many employees is a bad thing. Hopefully some will be absorbed in to the remaning and new stores.

06-23-2012, 03:25 PM	#8
BBW MeganLynn44DD Fat N' Fluffy Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Coast Posts: 298	Let's just hope they don't change Lane Bryant too much,I've been pretty happy lately going shopping and would be really upset if things changed!