Maurices
{{Short description|American women's clothing retail chain}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Maurices Inc.
| logo =
| image = Maurices, Tifton Mall.JPG
| image_size = 300px
| image_caption = A Maurices store at Tifton Mall in Tifton, Georgia
| type = Subsidiary
| foundation = {{start date and age|1931}}
| founder = E. Maurice Labovitz
| location_city = Duluth, Minnesota
| location_country = U.S.
| areas_served = United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada
| key_people =
| industry = Retail
| products = Clothing, footwear, jewelry
| parent = American Retail Group (1978–2005)
Ascena Retail Group
(2005–2019)
OpCapita
(2019-present)
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.maurices.com}}
}}
Maurices Inc., stylized as maurices, is an American women's clothing retail chain based in Duluth, Minnesota. Founded in 1931 in Duluth,{{cite web |url=http://www.maurices.com/careers/hometown |title=In the heart of Duluth |publisher=maurices |accessdate=June 13, 2017}} the chain comprises more than 1,000 stores in the United States and Canada, primarily located in shopping malls and smaller towns.
The founding Labovitz family sold Maurices to the Brenninkmeijer family's American Retail Group in 1978.{{cite web |url=http://m.startribune.com/business/100169404.html |title=MAURICES THROUGH THE DECADES|author= |date=15 Aug 2010 |website=www.m.startribune.com |publisher=Star Tribune |access-date= 6 May 2018|quote=}}{{dead link|date=August 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} [https://artfulliving.com/maurices-through-the-decades/ Alt URL] Ascena Retail Group acquired it from American Retail Group in 2005.{{cite news |title=Dress Barn to Buy Maurices (Published 2004) |work=The New York Times |date=17 November 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717034520/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/17/business/dress-barn-to-buy-maurices.html?_r=0 |archive-date=2023-07-17 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/17/business/dress-barn-to-buy-maurices.html?_r=0 |last1=Sorkin |first1=Andrew Ross |last2=Rozhan |first2=Tracie }}
History
Maurices was founded by Emanuel Morris “E. Maurice” Labovitz (1900-1993),{{cite web |url=https://www.lakesuperior.com/lifestyle/385-maurices-small-town-roots-big-time-success/|title=Maurices: Small Town Roots, Big Time Success|author=Konnie Lemay|date=1 Oct 2016 |website=www.lakesuperior.com |publisher=Lake Superior Magazine |access-date= 31 August 2024|quote=}} who opened his first store under the name Maurices Dress Shop, 1931 in Duluth. The name was shortened to simply Maurices by the late 1960's.{{cite web |url=https://thecenteral.com/unveiling-the-fashion-essence-a-deep-dive-into-the-success-story-of-maurices/|title=Unveiling the Fashion Essence: A Deep Dive into the Success Story of Maurices|author= |date=31 Jan 2024 |website=www.thecenteral.com |publisher=The Central |access-date= 31 August 2024|quote=}}
In 2011, Maurices was rated one of the "Top Ten Best Employers in Retail" by Forbes.com.{{cite news|last=Wong|first=Elaine|title=The Ten Best Employers In Retail|url=https://www.forbes.com/2010/12/02/best-retailer-employers-leadership-sales-leadership.html|accessdate=17 March 2011|work=Forbes|date=2010-12-02}}
In March 2019, Ascena sold a majority stake in Maurices to a U.S. subsidiary of London-based private equity firm OpCapita LLP at a valuation of $300 million. Maurices' leadership team remained in place, with the addition of former GAP CEO Jeff Kirwan as the company's new executive chairman.{{Cite web|url=http://tcbmag.com/news/articles/2019/march/duluth-based-women-s-clothier-maurices-sold-to-london-equity-firm|title=Duluth-Based Women's Clothier Maurices Sold to London Equity Firm|last=Ostuni|first=Amanda|date=2019-03-25|website=Twin Cities Business|access-date=2020-03-18}} Ascena will retain a minority stake in the company. In a public statement released after the transaction, OpCapita's CEO Henry Jackson said he would “welcome the continued support of Ascena through their retained stake and the range of services they will provide.”{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/duluth-based-retailer-maurices-sold-to-private-equity-firm-in-300m-deal/507626612/|title=Duluth-based retailer Maurices sold to private-equity firm in $300M deal|website=Star Tribune|access-date=2019-04-22}}
Celebrity endorsements
In November 2011, Maurices announced a cooperation with celebrity designer Christopher Straub from the reality television show Project Runway season 6, which aired on Lifetime Network. The products are labeled Christopher Straub for maurices and were released nationwide on Friday, November 25, 2011.[http://www.maurices.com/home/index.jsp "maurices.com homepage"] Straub also designed a plush puppy as part of the collection to benefit the American Cancer Society.[http://www.maurices.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12006689 "Cooper the Beagle"]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} This cooperation is a follow-up to the maurices Main Street Model Search[http://www.mauricesmainstreetmodel.com/index.php "Maurices Main Street Model Search"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321202948/http://www.mauricesmainstreetmodel.com/index.php |date=March 21, 2011 }} which occurred earlier in 2011 with Straub.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Maurices}}
- [http://www.maurices.com Maurices official website]
{{Ascena Retail Group}}
Category:Clothing retailers of the United States
Category:Companies based in Duluth, Minnesota
Category:Companies based in Minnesota
Category:Retail companies established in 1931
Category:1931 establishments in Minnesota
Category:American companies established in 1931
{{US-retail-company-stub}}