Wet Seal
Encyclopedia
Wet Seal is a young women's clothing retailer headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California. It carries moderately priced brand name and company-designed apparel and accessories. The company was founded in Newport Beach, California
by Lorne Huycke in 1962 as "Lorne's." The "Wet Seal" name comes from a comment Lorne Huycke made during a fashion show commenting that a model wearing a bathing suit looked like a "wet seal."
In 1995, Wet Seal acquired 237 Contempo Casuals stores from the Neiman Marcus Group
. Contempo Casuals would continue to use its own name until 2001, when the remaining stores were converted into Wet Seal stores. The company then launched the Arden B. brand in November 1998 and changed most of the remaining Contempo Casual names to Arden B. In June 2010 the Blink by Wet Seal concept was announced. As of November 22, 2006, Wet Seal has 428 locations in 48 states and Puerto Rico . The company reported to expand 50 new stores in 2011.
The Wet Seal, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate as a specialty retailer of apparel and accessory items for women in the United States. It operates three mall-based chains of retail stores under the Wet Seal,Arden B, and Blink by Wet Seal brands. The company's Wet Seal stores offer apparel and accessories for teenage girls. Arden B stores provide feminine, contemporary collections of fashion separates and accessories. Blink stores focus on denim products for the same teenage girl market as Wet Seal, but with store sizes of 1600 square feet (148.6 m²) versus the 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) of Wet Seal. It also operates Web-based stores, which include www.wetseal.com that offers Wet Seal merchandise; and www.ardenb.com, which offers Arden B apparel and accessories. As of January 30, 2010, the company operated 504 retail stores in 47 states, including 424 Wet Seal stores and 80 Arden B stores. The Wet Seal, Inc. was founded in 1962 and is based in Foothill Ranch, California.
The chain made a failed attempt to purchase County Seat
in 1996.
Wet Seal typically serves the same audience and competes with Deb Shops
, Justice, Forever 21
, and Charlotte Russe
.
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
by Lorne Huycke in 1962 as "Lorne's." The "Wet Seal" name comes from a comment Lorne Huycke made during a fashion show commenting that a model wearing a bathing suit looked like a "wet seal."
In 1995, Wet Seal acquired 237 Contempo Casuals stores from the Neiman Marcus Group
Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
. Contempo Casuals would continue to use its own name until 2001, when the remaining stores were converted into Wet Seal stores. The company then launched the Arden B. brand in November 1998 and changed most of the remaining Contempo Casual names to Arden B. In June 2010 the Blink by Wet Seal concept was announced. As of November 22, 2006, Wet Seal has 428 locations in 48 states and Puerto Rico . The company reported to expand 50 new stores in 2011.
The Wet Seal, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate as a specialty retailer of apparel and accessory items for women in the United States. It operates three mall-based chains of retail stores under the Wet Seal,Arden B, and Blink by Wet Seal brands. The company's Wet Seal stores offer apparel and accessories for teenage girls. Arden B stores provide feminine, contemporary collections of fashion separates and accessories. Blink stores focus on denim products for the same teenage girl market as Wet Seal, but with store sizes of 1600 square feet (148.6 m²) versus the 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) of Wet Seal. It also operates Web-based stores, which include www.wetseal.com that offers Wet Seal merchandise; and www.ardenb.com, which offers Arden B apparel and accessories. As of January 30, 2010, the company operated 504 retail stores in 47 states, including 424 Wet Seal stores and 80 Arden B stores. The Wet Seal, Inc. was founded in 1962 and is based in Foothill Ranch, California.
The chain made a failed attempt to purchase County Seat
County Seat (store)
County Seat was an American clothing retailer founded in 1973. With more than 740 stores at its peak, the chain closed in 1999 following Chapter 11 bankruptcy.-History:...
in 1996.
Wet Seal typically serves the same audience and competes with Deb Shops
Deb Shops
Deb Shops is a specialty retail chain store in the United States that sells women's clothing and accessories under its own private labels as well other well-known labels. The company is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and principally serves women in their early-teens through their late-twenties...
, Justice, Forever 21
Forever 21
Forever 21 is an American chain of clothing retailers with branches in major cities in The United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East that offers fashion and accessories for young women and men....
, and Charlotte Russe
Charlotte Russe (retailer)
Charlotte Russe is a specialty retail chain store in the United States dedicated to selling trendy clothing and accessories under the Charlotte Russe, refuge., and blu chic labels. The company is based in San Diego, California...
.