Catherines Plus Sizes

With more than 450 stores nationwide, their Catherines brand is a leading plus size specialty retailer targeting women age 45+. Catherines offers classic and current plus size fashion and accessories for career and casual lifestyles in sizes 0X–5X.  Their customers can shop Catherines on the Web at catherines.com

Catherines is part of Charming Shoppes Inc.

Charming Shoppes, Inc. is a leading multi-brand specialty apparel retailer primarily focused on plus-size women's apparel.  They are the parent company of three distinct store brands – Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug and Catherines Plus Sizes.

Their Vision is to be the company known for celebrating the lives and fashion image of women wearing plus sizes. Their continuing Mission is to serve the lifestyle apparel needs of women wearing plus sizes with the very best service, fashion selection, value and fit.

Learn more at Catherines Plus Size.

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Here is a brief history of Catherines.  This is merely a small portion of their achievements:

1960s–1970s

The Catherines business originated in Memphis in 1960, with a single store owned by Catherine Weaver, whose goal was to bring style to the plus-size market. As the concept became successful, more stores opened throughout the South. In 1960, a group of investors bought the chain, then called Catherines Stout Shoppes, and formed Catherines, Inc.

1980s

Growth continued, and by 1980 the company opened its 100th store. A new store, PS…Plus Sizes, Plus Savings, debuted in 1980.

1990s

Catherines, Inc. went public in July 1991, and became Catherines Stores Corporation. Catherines Stores Corporation acquired Virginia Specialty Stores, the operators of Added Dimensions and The Answer, in 1992, and became the third-largest specialty plus-size women's retailer in the country with more than 300 stores.

2000

On January 7, Charming Shoppes, Inc. acquired Catherines Stores Corporation.


2002

In March, Catherines became Charming Shoppes' first online retailer, launching e-commerce at catherines.com. Also in 2002, the Company announced the closing of the Added Dimensions and The Answer chains. Catherines had operated these 77 plus-size stores in 23 states, concentrated in the Southeast and the Northeast. By midyear, these stores were closed or converted to Catherines Plus Sizes stores.

2008

Catherines relocates its brand home offices to Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

Learn more about Charming Shoppes Inc. at their website.

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