Clothing Stores Industry Overview

Excerpt from Clothing Stores Report

Companies in this industry operate physical retail establishments that sell clothing and accessories. Major companies include TJX Companies (TJ Maxx, Marshalls), Gap, and Limited Brands (all based in the US), along with Hennes & Mauritz (Sweden), Inditex's Zara chain (Spain), and Arcadia Group's Topshop (UK).

Competitive Landscape

Personal income and fashion trends drive demand for clothing. The profitability of individual companies depends heavily on effective merchandising and marketing. Large companies can offer wide selections of clothing and have advantages in purchasing, distribution, and marketing. Small stores can compete by offering unique merchandise, targeting a specific demographic, providing superior customer service, or serving a local market. The industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for about 65 percent of industry revenue.

Products, Operations & Technology

The clothing retail industry includes stores specializing in women's clothing (50 percent of industry revenue) or men's clothing (20 percent). Stores may also specialize in children's clothing (nearly 10 percent of sales) or accessories. Children's clothing stores include infant wear. Accessory stores may specialize in hats or caps, costume jewelry, gloves, handbags, ties, wigs, or belts. Within their specialty, stores typically sell a full range of items including clothing, outerwear, and underwear. Many clothing stores also sell shoes, accessories, makeup, and perfumes.