Hot Retail Companies For 2015

Hot Retail Companies For 2015: ANN Inc (ANN)

ANN INC., incorporated in 1988, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a specialty retailer of womens apparel, shoes and accessories sold primarily under the Ann Taylor and LOFT brands. The Companys Ann Taylor and LOFT brands offers a range of career and casual separates, dresses, tops, weekend wear, shoes and accessories. It offers updated past season sellers from the Ann Taylor and LOFT merchandise collections at its Ann Taylor Factory and LOFT Outlet stores, respectively, and the clients can also shop online at www.anntaylor.com and www.LOFT.com (together, Online Stores), or by phone at 1-800-DIAL-ANN and 1-888-LOFT-444. As of January 28, 2012, it operated 953 retail stores in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, consisted of 280 Ann Taylor stores, 500 LOFT stores, 99 Ann Taylor Factory stores and 74 LOFT Outlet stores.

Substantially all of the Companys merchandise is developed by its in-house product design and development teams , who design merchandise exclusively for the Company. A small percentage of its merchandise is purchased through branded vendors, which is selected to complement its in-house assortment. The Company sourced merchandise from approximately 138 manufacturers and vendors in 19 countries. Approximately 42% of its merchandise unit purchases originated in China, 13% in the Philippines, 14% in Indonesia, 14% in India, and 13% in Vietnam. The Companys wholly owned subsidiary, AnnTaylor Distribution Services, Inc., owns its 256,000-square-foot distribution center located in Louisville, Kentucky. The distribution center is located on approximately 27 acres. Its merchandise is distributed to stores, including the Online Stores, through this facility.

An average Ann Taylor store is approximately 5,500 square feet in size. The Company operates two Ann Taylor flagship stores, one located in New York City and one loca! ted in Chicago. LOFT stores average approximately 5,800 sq uare feet. The Company also operates one LOFT flagship store on the ground floor of 7 Times Square, its corporate headquarters, in New York City. During the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 (fiscal 2011), it opened 14 LOFT stores that averaged approximately 5,500 square feet. Ann Taylor Factory stores average approximately 7,100 square feet. LOFT Outlet stores average approximately 7,000 square feet. During fiscal 2011, its LOFT Outlet stores were 38 new stores that averaged approximately 7,600 square feet.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By jaggom]

  ANN (ANN), with its strong quarterly results, indicates that the company is making a comeback. Despite headwinds in the retail apparel market and competition, ANN emerged as a winner by reporting strong quarterly results. ANN has outperformed in the past and is continually working on improving market share. The company looks positioned for a comeback and could be a good long-term holding as its recent results suggest.

• [By Vanina Egea]

  However, there is some concern that growing competition from local rivals like Abercrombie & Fitch Inc. (ANF) and Ann Inc. (ANN), and international brands such as Inditex may erode the company麓s margin. Its increase in input costs, inventory per store levels, and negative international comps are also key factors to analyze.

• [By Rich Smith]

  On Earth Day 2013, Ann Taylor parent companyAnn Inc. (NYSE: ANN  ) announced that across nearly 400 stores in North America, it had cut its "carbon footprint" by 20% -- twice its objective, and more than two years ahead of schedule.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/hot-retail-companies-for-2015-2.html