Charming Charlie
{{Short description|American women's fashion store}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Charming Charlie
| logo = Charming-Charlie-Logo.png
| image = Charming Charlie - Streets of Tanasbourne - Hillsboro, Oregon.JPG
| image_caption = A Charming Charlie store in Hillsboro, Oregon
| industry = Women's apparel and accessories
| founded = 2004
| key_people = Charlie Chanaratsopon (CEO and Founder){{cite news |title=Retailer Charming Charlie is returning to LI |url=https://www.newsday.com/business/charming-charlie-green-acres-mall-1.50104289 |work=Newsday |language=en}}
| website = https://charmingcharlie.com/
}}
Charming Charlie is a women's contemporary fashion and accessories retailer based in Houston, Texas.
History
Launched in 2004 by founder and former chief executive officer, Charlie Chanaratsopon, the brand is known for offering a wide array of women's apparel and fashion accessories, beauty, gifts and more, all arranged by color.{{Cite web|title = About Us {{!}} charming charlie|url = http://www.charmingcharlie.com/about/about-us/|website = www.charmingcharlie.com|accessdate = 2015-10-02}}
In November 2017, Charming Charlie filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after reaching a restructuring deal with its lenders that would allow for the company to continue operating its stores throughout the Christmas season. The company announced plans to shutter 100 of its 375 locations by December 29, 2017, as well as the lay off of additional employees at its corporate headquarters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.andrewjowett.net/2017/12/11/charming-charlie-files-for-bankruptcy/|title=Charming Charlie files for bankruptcy|date=November 11, 2017|access-date=July 10, 2025|website=Andrew Jowett|language=en}} By April 2018, Charming Charlie had its reorganization plan approved by a U.S. bankruptcy judge, and emerged from its bankruptcy proceedings that same month.{{Cite web|url=https://wwd.com/business-news/financial/feature/charming-charlie-emerged-from-bankruptcy-court-protection-1202659987/|title=Charming Charlie Emerges From Bankruptcy|first=Vicki|last=Young|date=April 24, 2018|access-date=July 10, 2025|website=Women's Wear Daily|language=en}}
In July 2019, Charming Charlie filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in less than two years. The company noted that its reorganization plan was unsuccessful, stating that "these efforts simply were not sufficient to stabilize." As a result of the bankruptcy filing, the company announced the closure of its 261 remaining locations nationwide, with liquidation sales beginning at all locations immediately after the announcement. All stores permanently closed by August 31, 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/07/11/charming-charlie-store-closures-chapter-11-bankruptcy/1702124001/|title=Charming Charlie going out of business, will close all 261 stores in Chapter 11 bankruptcy|last=Bomey|first=Nathan|date=11 July 2019|work=USA Today|access-date=1 February 2020}}
By November 2019, the firm had reemerged from bankruptcy, positioned by founder Charlie Chanaratsopon. The company announced a comeback and reopened several new locations, with eventual plans to open 50 to 75 locations within the next few years.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pymnts.com/news/retail/2021/charming-charlie-plans-brick-and-mortar-comeback-18-month-after-closing/ |title=Charming Charlie Continues Brick-And-Mortar Comeback 18 Months After Bankruptcy |website=pymnts.com |date=2021-01-06 |access-date=2023-08-22}} However, in 2022, Charming Charlie announced that they would once again be shutting down its locations after failing to reach profitability.{{Cite web|url=https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/frisco/impacts/2022/03/29/charming-charlie-to-close-retail-locations-including-store-at-friscos-stonebriar-centre/|title=Charming Charlie to close retail locations, including store at Frisco's Stonebriar Centre|last=Cooper|first=Brooklynn|date=March 29, 2022|access-date=September 22, 2024|website=Community Impact|language=en}}
Awards
In 2013, Charming Charlie was awarded with The Accessories Council's "Specialty Retailer" ACE Award, ranked number 745 on Inc. Magazine's annual list of "Top 5,000 Fastest-Growing Businesses,"{{Cite web|title=Charming Charlie|url=https://www.inc.com/profile/charming-charlie|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Inc.com}} and was featured on Forbes Magazine's "Ones to Watch" list. Prior to that, in 2010, Charming Charlie received the "Hot Retailer of the Year" award from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and the "Marketer of the Year" award in the Retail Category from the American Marketing Association (AMA). Within the same year, Charlie was honored with Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Retail Category.{{Cite web |date=2011-12-10 |title=Photos: 'Hot retailer' opens first O.C. store |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2011/12/10/photos-hot-retailer-opens-first-oc-store/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:Defunct retail companies of the United States
Category:Companies based in Houston
Category:Defunct companies based in Texas
Category:Retail companies established in 2004
Category:Retail companies disestablished in 2019
Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017
Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019
Category:Clothing retailers of the United States
Category:Eyewear retailers of the United States
Category:Clothing brands of the United States
Category:Eyewear brands of the United States
Category:2004 establishments in Texas