Casual Male Retail Group
Encyclopedia
Casual Male Retail Group, Inc. is a group of specialty clothing retail
stores based in Canton, Massachusetts
that operates six chains under the trade names Destination XL, Rochester Big & Tall, Casual Male XL, BT Factory Direct, Shoes XL, and Living XL. The company also has deals with Sears and Sears Canada
and to provide the Sears Big & Tall clothing lines. It is the largest retailer of such clothing, with about 500 locations in the United States
, England
and Canada
.
National brands carried by the chain include Cubavera, Nautica Jeans, Geoffrey Beene
, Calvin Klein
, and Reebok
. Its in-house brands include Harbor Bay, Oak Hill, Synrgy, True Nation, and CM Gold Series, respectively. In addition, the Rochester stores carry such brands as Burberry
, Ermenegildio Zegna, Polo Ralph Lauren
, Tommy Bahama
, and their in-house brands Rochester 1906 and Castagne.
In May 2002, Designs bought Casual Male, a bankrupt specialty retailer of men's apparel. Focusing on the big and tall business, Designs sold off its other business lines and changed its name to Casual Male.
In 2004, Casual Male hired former champion boxer George Foreman
to promote the chain and become the spokesman
for new lines of clothing bearing his name. Also in 2004, Casual Male began a program to remodel its stores.
In 2005, Casual Male changed the name of its stores from Casual Male Big & Tall to Casual Male XL.
In 2006, the Casual Male purchased Jared M., a custom clothing business that catered to professional athletes and other high profile clients. Casual Male decided in 2007 to discontinue the Jared M. operation due to concerns about its long-term performance.
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
stores based in Canton, Massachusetts
Canton, Massachusetts
Canton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,561 at the 2010 census. Canton is part of Greater Boston, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Boston.- History :...
that operates six chains under the trade names Destination XL, Rochester Big & Tall, Casual Male XL, BT Factory Direct, Shoes XL, and Living XL. The company also has deals with Sears and Sears Canada
Sears Canada
Sears Canada Inc. is a retailer, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, that operates in all provinces and territories across Canada with a network of 196 corporate stores, 195 dealer stores, 38 home improvement showrooms, 108 Sears Travel offices and a nationwide home maintenance, repair, and...
and to provide the Sears Big & Tall clothing lines. It is the largest retailer of such clothing, with about 500 locations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
National brands carried by the chain include Cubavera, Nautica Jeans, Geoffrey Beene
Geoffrey Beene
Geoffrey Beene was an American fashion designer.Beene was born in Haynesville, Louisiana. He studied medicine at Tulane University, but dropped out in 1946, after three years. He moved to New York in 1947 to attend the Traphagen School of Fashion...
, Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
, and Reebok
Reebok
Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
. Its in-house brands include Harbor Bay, Oak Hill, Synrgy, True Nation, and CM Gold Series, respectively. In addition, the Rochester stores carry such brands as Burberry
Burberry
Burberry Group plc is a British luxury fashion house, manufacturing clothing, fragrance, and fashion accessories. Its distinctive tartan pattern has become one of its most widely copied trademarks. Burberry is most famous for its iconic trench coat, which was invented by founder Thomas Burberry...
, Ermenegildio Zegna, Polo Ralph Lauren
Polo Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren Corporation is a luxury clothing and goods company of the American fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Ralph Lauren specializes in high-end casual/semi-formal wear for men and women, as well as accessories, fragrances, home and housewares...
, Tommy Bahama
Tommy Bahama
Tommy Bahama is the Seattle-based manufacturer of casual, men’s & women’s sportswear, denim, swimwear, accessories, footwear and a complete home furnishings collection. The brand is owned by Atlanta-based Oxford Industries. Tommy Bahama is available at Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Sak's Fifth Avenue,...
, and their in-house brands Rochester 1906 and Castagne.
History
Casual Male Retail Group was founded in 1976 by Calvin Margolis and Stanley Berger as Designs, Inc., a chain of retail stores that sold Levi's Dockers.In May 2002, Designs bought Casual Male, a bankrupt specialty retailer of men's apparel. Focusing on the big and tall business, Designs sold off its other business lines and changed its name to Casual Male.
In 2004, Casual Male hired former champion boxer George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
to promote the chain and become the spokesman
Spokesman
A spokesperson or spokesman or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have received formal training in journalism, communications, public relations and...
for new lines of clothing bearing his name. Also in 2004, Casual Male began a program to remodel its stores.
In 2005, Casual Male changed the name of its stores from Casual Male Big & Tall to Casual Male XL.
In 2006, the Casual Male purchased Jared M., a custom clothing business that catered to professional athletes and other high profile clients. Casual Male decided in 2007 to discontinue the Jared M. operation due to concerns about its long-term performance.
External links
- Official site
- Casual Male Retail Group - Company History at FundingUniverse.com