Ascena's maurices Brand Expands Store Base - Analyst Blog

maurices, a subsidiary of Ascena Retail Group Inc. ASNA, is aggressively expanding store base with the opening new stores as well as re-opening remodeled stores.  maurices yesterday announced plans to inaugurate 15 stores, including 7 new store openings and 8 re-openings of remodeled stores. The stores are slated to open between Jun 27 and Jul 18.

The seven new stores will come up at Lufkin Mall in Lufkin, TX; Greensburg Crossing in Greensburg, IN; The Gardens on Havana in Aurora, CO; Poplar Creek Crossing in Hoffman Estates, IL; Park Terrace in Deridder, LA; Acadiana Mall in Lafayette, LA; and Mall at Lawson Heights in Saskatoon, SK. The eight re-openings include stores at Commerce Square in Brownwood, TX; University Mall in South Burlington, VT; The Shoppes at Yankton in Yankton, SD; Glenwood Meadows in Glenwood Springs, CO; Frontier Mall in Cheyenne, WY; Johnson Creek Premium Outlet in Johnson Creek, WI; Litchfield Plaza in Litchfield, IL; and K Mart Center in Lapeer, MI.

The celebrations to mark the inauguration and reopening of these stores will last for a week. During the celebration week, maurices will offer $25 off for every $75 purchase made in the store.

maurices has been continuously expanding its store network for nearly five years now. Starting from a single retail store, it has expanded its store base to over 900 stores in the United States and Canada. In the last five years, the brand has opened over 250 stores and boosted sales by nearly 65%. The brands store expansion plan indicates that it is gradually moving toward its goal of operating over 1,300 stores in the long run.

Expanding its store base not only helps maurices satisfy demand for its products but also signifies the brand's commitment toward providing an amazing shopping experience to its customers both in-stores and online.

maurices is a brand for real girls offering real style that fits their real lives. It is a women's clothing store that provides fashionable merchandise for every occasion and budget, in sizes 1-24. Apart from offering merchandise for work, for home and even for night outs, its assortments include renowned denim collections as well as on trend shoes and accessories for every occasion.

Ascena Retail Group is a specialty retailer that offers clothing for women as well as teen girls and boys. The company provides apparel, accessories, footwear, undergarments and lifestyle products such as bedroom furnishings and electronics. The company's operating segments include Justice, Lane Bryant, maurices, dressbarn and Catherines. Some of the popular brands sold by the company include Justice, Brothers, Lane Bryant, Cacique, Right Fit, maurices, Studio Y, dressbarn, Catherines, Maggie Barnes, Liz&Me and Serenada.

As of Apr 26, 2014, Ascena operated nearly 3,900 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. In its last earnings release, the company outlined its plan to open about 40–60 stores during fiscal 2014.

Ascena currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks among apparel and shoe retailers include Citi Trends Inc. CTRN, Christopher & Banks Corp. CBK and Foot Locker Inc. FL. Of these, Citi Trends and Christopher & Banks have a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Foot Locker carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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