PacSun

{{Infobox company

| name = Pacific Sunwear of California, LLC By Jaydon Moore(CEO)

| logo = PacSun Logo.svg

| logo_size = 250px

| image = Freeport pacsun 07.07.2012 11-36-25.jpg

| image_caption = A freestanding PacSun in Freeport, Maine, 2012

| type = Private

| trade_name = PacSun

| foundation = Newport Beach, California, U.S. (1980)

| founder = Jack Hopkins

| location = Anaheim, California, U.S.

| locations = {{decrease}} 325 (May 2022) {{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200123005686/en/PSEB-Group-Announces-CEO-Transition|title=PSEB Group Announces CEO Transition|date=2020-01-03|access-date=2020-06-18|publisher=Businesswire}}

| revenue = {{increase}} USD$797.79 million (2014)

| net_income = {{decrease}} $48.72 million (2014)

| num_employees = {{decrease}} 8,200 (June 2020){{cite web|url=http://www.vault.com/company-profiles/retail/pacific-sunwear-stores-corp/company-overview|title=Pacific Sunwear Stores Corp-Company Profile-Vault.com|access-date=2020-06-18}}

| area_served = United States
Canada

| products = California inspired clothing, footwear, and accessories.

| owner = PSEB (Golden Gate Capital)

| homepage = {{URL|pacsun.com}}

}}

Pacific Sunwear of California, LLC, commonly known as PacSun, is an American retail clothing brand. The company sells lifestyle apparel, along with swim, footwear and accessories designed for teens and young adults. As of 2022, the company operates 325 stores in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. PacSun is headquartered in Anaheim, California, and formerly operated a distribution center in Groveport, Ohio.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2019/02/13/pacsun-olathe-distribution-center-closes.html|title=PacSun will close Olathe center; facility goes on the market for $21.75M|first=Miranda|last=Davis|date=2019-02-13|access-date=2020-06-18|publisher=Kansas City Business Journal}} The company's regional directors, district managers and store positions are located throughout the United States.{{Cite web |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=83185&p=irol-IRHome |title=PacSun.com - Investor Relations |access-date=2009-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218091219/http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=83185&p=irol-IRHome |archive-date=2008-12-18 |url-status=dead }} The company went bankrupt in April 2016 and is now owned by Golden Gate Capital.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-06/pacific-sunwear-has-retailer-s-dream-as-bankruptcy-wraps-up|title=Pacific Sunwear Has 'Retailer's Dream' as Bankruptcy Wraps Up|author=Steven Church|date=2016-09-07|publisher=Bloomberg|via=www.bloomberg.com}}

History

File:D.E.M.O. Logo 2006.svg File:D.E.M.O. Logo 2000.svg

Initially founded by Jack Hopkins and Tom Moore in 1980, its roots can be traced back to a small surf shop in Seal Beach, California.{{Cite news|url=https://dailydolphin.hbcsd.org/595/feature/girls-clothing-trends-2016/|title=Girls Clothing Trends 2016|last=Catie|work=The Daily Dolphin|access-date=2017-09-15|language=en-US}} PacSun built its business selling merchandise from established surf brands but later expanded to include skate and streetwear labels. The company offers products for both men and women that include: jeans, tees, tanks, polos, knits, flannels, hoodies, boardshorts, bikinis, shorts, pants, dresses, rompers, skirts, sweaters, jackets, snow apparel, shoes, sandals and accessories. The company had an initial public offering on March 15, 1993 and at its height had over 1,300 stores in all 50 states. PacSun opened a second chain of stores called d.e.m.o., in 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2003/11/11/demo-rocks-pacsun.aspx|title=d.e.m.o. Rocks PacSun|first=Dave|last=Marino-Nachison|date=11 November 2003 }} The last of these stores closed in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://wwd.com/business-news/financial/pacsun-to-close-all-d-e-m-o-stores-471544/|title=PacSun to Close All D.e.m.o. Stores|first=WWD|last=Staff|date=7 January 2008}}

On February 23, 2005, the company restated results for certain periods to correct its accounting for leases.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Pacific+Sunwear+Announces+Lease+Accounting+Corrections.-a0129097070 |title= Pacific Sunwear Announces Lease Acctg Corrections |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115546/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Pacific+Sunwear+Announces+Lease+Accounting+Corrections.-a0129097070 |archive-date=2014-08-26 |url-status=dead |access-date=2019-10-06}}

In 2012, PacSun collaborated with celebrity influencers Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner to produce their own fashion line.{{Cite news|url=http://www.business2community.com/consumer-marketing/shifting-winds-retail-01903509#ljJffBzGwdOpWGo8.97|title=The Shifting Winds in Retail|work=Business 2 Community|access-date=2017-09-15}}

From 2009 to 2017, Gary Schoenfeld was the CEO of PacSun. Following his departure from the organization, James Gulmi became the interim CEO.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mytotalretail.com/article/pacsun-names-interim-ceo-as-gary-schoenfeld-departs-company/|title=PacSun Names Interim CEO as Gary Schoenfeld Departs Company|last=Knight|first=Taylor|work=Total Retail|access-date=2017-09-15|language=en-US}}

In 2016, PacSun filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and reorganized through a debt-for-equity restructuring agreement with Golden Gate Capital, emerging as a privately owned company. At the time of the bankruptcy filing, there were 593 stores with no immediate plans to close any locations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pacsun-bankruptcy-20160407-story.html|title=PacSun files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, plans to go private|last=Masunaga|first=Samantha|work=Los Angeles Times|date=2016-04-07|access-date=2020-06-18}}

In 2018, PacSun merged with Eddie Bauer, also owned by Golden Gate, to form PSEB. Mike Egeck, CEO and President of Eddie Bauer, became the Chief Executive Officer of PSEB, with oversight of both the Eddie Bauer and PacSun brands. James Gulmi continued to serve as a PSEB director.{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180607005918/en/Golden-Gate-Capital-Announces-Eddie-Bauer-Pacific|title=Golden Gate Capital Announces Eddie Bauer and Pacific Sunwear to Become Portfolio Companies of New Operating Company, PSEB Group|date=2018-06-07|access-date=2020-06-18|publisher=Businesswire}}

On February 4, 2020, Egeck stepped down from his role of CEO, but remained as an active Board member and shareholder. PSEB announced that James Gulmi would become the interim CEO, a role he previously held from 2017 to 2018. At the time of the announcement, PacSun was down to 400 stores.

On September 25, 2020, PacSun launched the 'Gender Neutral Shop', a unisex collection of basic clothing, graphics, pants, hoodies and sneakers. With this collection, the company is "taking a big step towards a more sartorially inclusive future, joining in on a generational movement of less rules and more options".{{Cite web |date=September 25, 2020 |title=PacSun Launches Gender Neutral Shop for Unisex Dressing |url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/9/pacsun-gender-neutral-shop |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=Hypebeast}}

Marketing practices

In May 2011, PacSun launched its first national advertising campaign called 'Dress Irresponsibly'. The highlight of the campaign included television commercials aired across a variety of networks that featured famous athletes from the brands they work with. Appearances by Rob Machado, Bucky Lasek, Chris Pfanner, Kelia Moniz, Ryan Dungey and Leo Romero, were significant in helping re-establish the brand among its male audience. Other elements of the campaign included print media in both endemic and fashion publications, and a digital engagement initiative on Facebook titled 'Dress Irresponsibly: Style Challenge.' Through a customized Facebook app fans were encouraged to upload photos of themselves that met weekly style challenges in exchange for a chance to win a styling gig at Nylon in New York City.