Women’s apparel and accessories retailer Charming Charlie hopes to have a big comeback in 2021 some 18 months after the firm fell into bankruptcy and closed all 261 of its stores. The chain — known for scarves, handbags, jewelry and more grouped by color — opened six sites in 2020 and plans to cut the ribbon on at least 10 more for 2021.
“CharmingCharliehas over 7 million passionate and brand-loyal customers across the U.S.,” company FounderCharlie Chanaratsopon told PYMNTS via email. “In this age of [omnichannel] retail, we see an opportunity for the brand to thrive in the online ecosystem and select retail locations across the country.”
The chain recently opened mall-based stores inAtlanta; Providence, R.I.; Santa Monica, Calif.; Gilbert, Ariz.; and Towson and Columbia, Md.; and plans to add additional locationsin Texas, California and Florida in March unless COVID-19 restrictions delay that. Charming Charlie, which is based in Houston, originally planned to begin reopening physical stores last March, but the COVID-19 pandemic put those plans on hold.
At its height, Charming Charlie reportedly had more than 390 stores in North America, the Middle East and the Philippines. But in a 2019 court filing, the company wrote that it faced "unsustainable operating expenses, including onerous leases."
Chanaratsoponlater bought the company’s trademarks, 7 million member loyalty club’s contact list and other intellectual property out of bankruptcy court. The entrepreneurtold theHouston Chronicleat the time that that the chain’s new stores would be about 3,500 square feet, or about half the size of their predecessors. He said Charming Charlie would also utilize things like pop-up stores.
Chanaratsopon told PYMNTS that the eventual plan is to build back to 50 to 75 locations, “which is quite different from our previous years.”
The entrepreneur acknowledged that he’s going against the grain in opening mall-based brick-and-mortar sites at a time when malls and brick-and-mortar stores are suffering.
ButChanaratsoponsaid the plan is “very methodical. We want to continue to serve our customers, and are pinpointing brand-loyal markets to help direct where we open stores.”
“Our goal is to continue to be the same customer-facing company,” he said. “That commitmenthas always been there.”
FAQs
Charming Charlie, an apparel and accessories retailer, has announced their plans to make big waves in the industry in 2021. The retailer is back in business after filing for bankruptcy and closing all of their stores 18 months ago.
When did Charming Charlie come back? ›
The Charming Charlie brand was sold in September 2019 for $1.1 million to a group led by the original founder. The new owners started opening stores again, beginning with a store in Atlanta in September 2020.
Did Charming Charlies go out of business? ›
Charming Charlie Continues Brick-And-Mortar Comeback 18 Months After Bankruptcy. Women's apparel and accessories retailer Charming Charlie hopes to have a big comeback in 2021 some 18 months after the firm fell into bankruptcy and closed all 261 of its stores.
Who owns Charming Charlie now? ›
Chanaratsopon bought back the brand out of bankruptcy, and today it is opening physical stores again, and also has its own store on Amazon. Chanaratsopon seems relatively undaunted by his experience with his previous company's rise and fall. He sees up to 75 stores ahead for the revived Charming Charlie.
Why did they close Charming Charlie? ›
The company said it faced "unsustainable operating expenses, including onerous leases" at a time when many brick-and-mortar stores are battling with online retailers.
Can I still use my Charming Charlie gift card? ›
A note on gift cards
We're so excited that Charming Charlie has re-launched, and while we're still the brand you love, we're not exactly the same. Unfortunately, we are not able to redeem old Charming Charlie gift cards at this time.
Who is the CEO of Charming Charlie? ›
How much is Charming Charlie worth? ›
Charming Charlie was founded in 2004 by Houston native Charlie Chanaratsopon. In 2016, Chanaratsopon was listed on Forbes' list of America's Richest Entrepreneurs Under 40 with a net worth of $450 million.
What is Charming Charlie? ›
Charming Charlie - Women's Handbags & Accessories -Official Website. We're a fashion brand for women - known for our fun, colorful stores across the U.S. Shop our trendy collections from handbags, accessories, shoes, and apparel. Free shipping over $60!
What if I have a gift card for a business that closed? ›
If your card is for a small or locally-owned business, petition your state's attorney general. The Attorney General's Office may be able to force the business to honor gift cards. For larger corporations, you can file a claim in court for the amount your gift card is worth.
You can usually check the back of your gift card to see when it will expire. This will display the date when your gift card can no longer be used.
Do gift cards ever expire? ›
Federal Law Offers Protections
Under the law, a gift card cannot expire until at least five years from the date it was activated. The law also places general limitations on fees.
What job does Charlie have? ›
Charlie is a jingle writer and wrote the fictional Maple Loops song for an advert. This gave him a truckload of money, which obviously gave him entry into the easy life. While he appears to do no work, he has also written other jingles, such as Charlie Waffles, which is for kids.
Who is the marketing director of Charming Charlie? ›
Sheila Field serves as the Chief Marketing Officer of Charming Charlie.
Who is Charlie Main? ›
Charlie Main - Senior Vice President of Global Business Units - Jabil | LinkedIn.
Does Charming Charlie use real leather? ›
Depending on the style of bag you choose, purses are available in eco-friendly vegan leather or a combination of materials. You can also find heavy canvas tropical print totes trimmed with faux leather or a bag in a soft velvet fabric with gold-toned hardware. Content provided for informational purposes only.
Where is Charming Charlie in CT? ›
There are four of the stores in Connecticut according to the Charming Charlie website: West Hartford, Plainville, South Windsor, and Guilford.
What can you do with old gift cards? ›
Sell or Trade on a Gift Card Exchange Site
You can recoup some of the card's value if you sell or exchange it for a card you'll use. Opt for legit gift card exchange sites like CardCash and Raise—which also guarantee the value of your new card for at least 45 days after you buy them.
What happens to gift cards not used? ›
At any given time, 10 to 19 percent of gift card balances remain unredeemed, so what happens to the unused funds left over? According to the Hustle, the answer is more or less what you would expect: the company nets your unused gift card balance at 100 percent profit. It's not quite that simple, though.
How long do unused gift cards last? ›
2. How long do gift cards last? Federal law stipulates that gift cards can only expire five years after purchase. Its value can be diminished if it's not used within 12 months, as fees can be charged for inactivity, dormancy, and service.
To check an E-Gift card balance, contact us at orders@charmingcharlie.com.
