Premium Fashion: Ascena’s premium fashion segment consists of the Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Lou and Grey. ANN has over 1,000 specialty retail and outlet stores, ecommerce operations, and various licensed franchises in international territories, which allow customers to shop in over 100 countries around the world. These segments offer classic suits, separates, dresses, shoes, and accessories under the Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lou & Grey, Ann Taylor Factory, and LOFT Outlet divisions.
Value Fashion: Ascena’s value segment includes Maurices and Dress Barn. The company has nearly 1,000 Maurices specialty retail and outlet stores in addition to its ecommerce operations. These stores are concentrated in smaller markets of up to 150,000 people, and they cater to small town preferences. Maurices’ product line encompasses women's casual clothing, career wear, dressy apparel, active wear, and accessories. Dressbarn consists of over 800 specialty retail and outlet stores as well as ecommerce operations. Its aim is to maintain a distinctive position in the marketplace by providing its own private labels and contemporary fashions. These stores are located primarily in strip shopping centers in higher density markets and surrounding suburban areas.
Plus Fashion: Ascena’s plus segment consists of Lane Bryant and Catherines stores. Lane Bryant has over 800 retail and outlet stores as well as ecommerce operations. The segment offers brand name clothing in plus-sizes 14-28 and is located primarily in small towns and suburban areas. Catherines, with over 400 locations nationwide, offers plus sizes 16-34 and extended sizes 0X-5X. Its locations are similarly concentrated in small towns and suburban areas.
Kids Fashion: Ascena’s kids segment, Justice, has over 900 specialty retail and outlet stores, e-commerce operations and various licensed franchises throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Russia, and the Middle East. This brand is the largest premier “tween” specialty retailer in the world, offering apparel to girls in the 7-14 age range. Justice designs and creates its own Justice-brand products in-house. It offers clothing, accessories, footwear, lifestyle products, and electronics. Justice retail stores are located primarily in malls, outlet centers, and strip shopping centers.
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
Let’s Begin With The Ugly: When it comes to Ascena Retail, while there is much that is good, there’s some that is bad and some that’s downright ugly. Let’s begin with the latter. Ascena’s 2016 holiday sales were ugly for sure.