Aeropostale Inc (ARO)

Aéropostale, Inc., a Delaware corporation, originally incorporated as MSS-Delaware, Inc. on September 1, 1995 and later changed to Aéropostale, Inc. on February 1, 2000, is a mall-based specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories. The Company designs, markets and sells its own brand of merchandise principally targeting 14 to 17 year-old young women and young men. It also sells Aéropostale merchandise through its e-commerce website. It operates approximately 986 Aéropostale stores consisting of 918 stores in 50 states and Puerto Rico and 68 stores in Canada. The Company's Aéropostale concept provides the customer with a focused selection of high-quality, active-oriented, fashion and fashion basic merchandise at compelling values. It maintains control of its proprietary brands by designing and sourcing all of its merchandise. It locates its stores mainly in shopping malls, outlet centers and, to a much lesser degree, lifestyle and off-mall shopping centers, all located in geographic areas with the highest possible concentrations of its target customers. It locates its stores in mall locations near popular teen gathering spots, such as food courts and other teen-oriented retailers. The Company's stores average approximately 3,700 square feet. It designs its stores in an effort to create an energetic shopping environment, featuring powerful in-store promotional signage, creative visuals and popular music. It owns, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Aéropostale West, Inc., a Delaware corporation, federal trademark registrations in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its principal marks AÉROPOSTALE, AÉRO, 87, P.S. FROM AÉROPOSTALE, and other related marks for clothing, a variety of accessories, including sunglasses, belts, socks and hats, and as a service mark for retail clothing stores, as well as state registrations for these marks. It competes with a wide variety of retailers including other specialty stores, department stores, mail order retailers and mass merchandisers. The Company's Aéropostale brand competes mainly with other teen apparel retailers including, but not limited to, Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, Hollister, Old Navy, and Pacific Sunwear.