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Charlotte Russe headquarters in San Diego

Charlotte Russe (NASDAQ: CHIC) is a specialty retail chain store in the United States dedicated to selling trendy clothing and accessories under the Charlotte Russe, refuge., and blu chic labels. The company is based in San Diego, California. The company is targeted toward women in their teens through twenties.

[edit] History

Daniel Lawrence founded the store Charlotte Russe and opened its first store in 1975, in Carlsbad, California. The store was dedicated to selling clothes for women ages 12 to 35. The name comes from the French dessert.

The company was acquired in 1996 by the investment firm of SKM (Sanders, Karp and Megrue). The new owners had an ambitious plan of expansion for Charlotte Russe and the company evolved into a national chain of shopping mall stores. The company currently operates more than 460 stores nationwide.

Susie Castillo recently signed on as the Charlotte Russe brand ambassador and Gossip Girl stylist, Eric Daman, is going to help her design her own line influenced by her Latino heritage.^[2]

Charlotte Russe typically serves the same audience and competes with Deb Shops, Justice, Forever 21, and Wet Seal.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• www.charlotte-russe.com