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Dressbarn is an online retailer that specializes in women's casual dresses, leisure wear, accessories, and workwear. The company was founded as Dress Barn and operated retail stores between the early 1960s and late 2010s. In 2020, it became a brand owned by the private equity firm Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV) and branded as dressbarn.

Key Information

History

[edit]

The first Dress Barn (originally two words) was opened in February 1962 by Roslyn Jaffe in Stamford, Connecticut. Jaffe stocked wear-to-work dresses and women’s clothing during an era of women entering the workforce in greater numbers.[2]

Dress Barn began trading on NASDAQ (symbol DBRN) in 1982. In January 2011, to reflect its broader holdings, the company was reorganized as a Delaware corporation named Ascena Retail Group, Inc., with its NASDAQ symbol changed to ASNA in 2011.[3] As part of the reorganization, the name was shortened to Dressbarn (stylized in all-lowercase).

On May 21, 2019, Ascena Retail Group announced that it would eliminate Dressbarn's brick-and-mortar format and would be spun off.[4] Dressbarn was acquired by the private equity firm Retail Ecommerce Ventures.[5] In March 2023, Retail Ecommerce Ventures announced that it would be exploring options in effort to save themselves, including a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. They have also hired restructuring lawyers in effort to stave off bankruptcy.[6]

References

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Dressbarn

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from Grokipedia
Dressbarn is an American online retailer specializing in women's apparel, including casual and career dresses, leisure wear, workwear, tops, bottoms, and accessories, targeting a broad range of sizes from petite to plus. Founded in 1962 by Elliot Jaffe and Roslyn Jaffe in Stamford, Connecticut, with an initial investment of $5,000 in an abandoned shoe store space, the company began as a discount retailer offering name-brand clothing at 20 to 50 percent off department store prices. The brand expanded rapidly, incorporating as Dress Barn, Inc. in 1966 and going public in 1983, eventually operating over 800 physical stores across the United States by the early 2010s under parent company Ascena Retail Group, which acquired it in 2001. Dressbarn focused on affordable, stylish options for professional and everyday wear, appealing to women seeking value-driven fashion. In May 2019, facing declining sales and mounting losses, Ascena announced the closure of all approximately 650 Dressbarn stores as part of a strategic wind-down to refocus on more profitable brands, marking the end of its brick-and-mortar era. The company's intellectual property was sold in 2020 to Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), a firm founded by entrepreneurs Tai Lopez and Alex Mehr, which relaunched Dressbarn as an exclusively online platform powered by Shopify. As of 2025, Dressbarn continues to operate digitally, offering free shipping on orders over $75 and emphasizing high-quality, comfortable clothing with recent revenue projections indicating ongoing activity despite market challenges. In September 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged REV co-founders Tai Lopez and Alex Mehr with fraud related to a $112 million Ponzi scheme involving investor funds for REV acquisitions, including Dressbarn; the case is ongoing.

History

Founding and early expansion

Dress Barn was founded in 1962 by Elliot Jaffe and his wife, Roslyn Jaffe, in Stamford, Connecticut, as a discount women's apparel store aimed at middle-income women seeking affordable fashion options. At the time, Elliot was employed as a merchandising manager at Macy's Department Store in Connecticut, and the couple launched the venture with limited capital to fill a market gap for value-driven clothing. Roslyn Jaffe, a pioneering female entrepreneur in the male-dominated retail industry of the 1960s, played a central role in conceptualizing and operationalizing the business, contributing to its early planning and execution. The initial store embodied a no-frills, warehouse-style retail format, housed in an abandoned shoe factory without amenities like dedicated parking or dressing rooms, to keep overhead low and prices competitive. Merchandise consisted primarily of marked-down dresses and casual wear sourced from manufacturer overstock and closeouts, offering 20% to 50% discounts compared to traditional department stores. This approach resonated with budget-conscious consumers, establishing Dress Barn as an innovative discount model in women's fashion during an era of expanding postwar retail experimentation. Early expansion began swiftly, with the second store opening in March 1963, followed by a third location that doubled as a distribution center in a converted barn, reflecting the company's resourceful growth strategy. By 1966, the chain had grown to 12 stores, primarily in the Northeast, demonstrating controlled yet steady regional development. That same year, the business was formally incorporated as The Dress Barn, Inc., solidifying its structure for further advancement into the 1970s, when it approached nearly 20 locations and began incorporating designer labels to enhance its offerings.

Public offering and national growth

In 1983, The Dress Barn, Inc. completed its initial public offering (IPO) on the NASDAQ exchange, selling shares at $23 each and raising approximately $17 million to fund rapid expansion. This capital infusion enabled the company to pursue aggressive store openings, building on its early discount model of affordable women's apparel. Following the IPO, Dress Barn experienced significant national growth, expanding from around 66 stores in mid-1983 to 157 by the end of 1984 through a combination of new openings and acquisitions, such as 46 Off the Rax locations and eight Gap stores. By 1985, the chain operated over 200 stores across the United States, and this number grew to 307 locations in 26 states by 1989, entering diverse markets with both mall-based and standalone formats to reach a broader customer base. The expansion continued into the 1990s, peaking at 775 stores before a strategic retrenchment reduced the count to 680 by mid-1998, focusing on high-performing sites. During the 1990s, Dress Barn evolved its branding to encompass a wider range of apparel beyond dresses, including career wear, casual outfits, and accessories, while transitioning its name to the single-word "dressbarn" to modernize its image and appeal to a younger demographic. This period also saw the introduction of specialized sizing options, starting with the 1989 launch of Dress Barn Woman stores targeting plus-size customers (sizes 14W to 24W), followed by expanded petite lines to better serve varied body types. These changes supported sustained growth, with annual sales reaching $616 million by fiscal 1999.

Acquisitions and operational shifts

In the mid-2000s, The Dress Barn, Inc. pursued strategic acquisitions to diversify its portfolio and expand its market reach. In January 2005, the company acquired Maurices Incorporated, a specialty apparel retailer targeting young women, for approximately $320 million, adding 477 stores and enhancing its presence in midwestern and southern U.S. markets. This move allowed Dress Barn to integrate complementary brands under a unified corporate structure, fostering shared supply chain efficiencies and broader demographic appeal. Following this, in November 2009, Dress Barn completed a $157 million stock-for-stock merger with Tween Brands, Inc., incorporating the Justice brand focused on tween girls' apparel and adding over 600 stores, which significantly boosted overall revenue to $2.4 billion in fiscal 2010. These acquisitions coincided with operational shifts aimed at adapting to intensifying competition from fast-fashion retailers. Dress Barn rebranded its store name to the lowercase "dressbarn" in the early 2000s to project a more modern, youthful image while maintaining its value-oriented positioning. To improve responsiveness, the company implemented new inventory management systems, including a Merchandise Financial Planning and Allocation tool in 2010, which optimized stock distribution across locations and reduced overstock risks amid fluctuating demand. Store layouts were updated to emphasize casual and versatile separates over traditional careerwear, aligning with evolving consumer tastes for affordable, everyday fashion; these changes, combined with consolidated distribution from facilities like the Etna, Ohio center shared with Justice, generated synergies in sourcing and logistics. In August 2010, Dress Barn announced a corporate reorganization into a Delaware holding company, officially becoming Ascena Retail Group, Inc. in January 2011, to better reflect its multi-brand strategy while keeping Dress Barn as a core division. Under Ascena, Dress Barn benefited from cross-brand synergies, such as shared merchandising insights from Ann Taylor (acquired in 2015), which helped refine product assortments for professional and casual overlap. By the mid-2010s, these efforts supported a peak of approximately 825 Dress Barn stores nationwide, building on the national footprint established during 1990s expansion. However, by the late 2010s, Dress Barn faced early challenges from the rise of e-commerce and shifting consumer preferences toward athleisure and online shopping options. Comparable store sales declined 12% in fiscal 2018, reflecting broader pressures in women's apparel as customers gravitated to faster, digitally native competitors. Sales continued to fall, dropping 7% in the second quarter of 2019, underscoring the brand's struggles to fully transition amid these market dynamics.

Store closures and digital relaunch

In May 2019, Ascena Retail Group, the parent company of Dressbarn, announced plans to close all approximately 650 physical stores, attributing the decision to mounting financial pressures, including over $1.3 billion in long-term debt and broader challenges in the brick-and-mortar retail sector such as shifting consumer preferences and e-commerce competition. The wind-down process began immediately with liquidation sales at all locations, leading to the shuttering of the final stores by December 2019. Prior to these closures, Dressbarn maintained a network of about 650 stores across the United States under Ascena's ownership. In November 2019, Ascena sold Dressbarn's intellectual property, brand name, and e-commerce assets to Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), a digital retail firm founded by entrepreneurs Tai Lopez and Alex Mehr. This acquisition preserved the brand's online presence amid the physical retail shutdown. Under REV's ownership, Dressbarn relaunched as an online-only retailer in January 2020 via dressbarn.com, shifting to a direct-to-consumer model with refreshed inventory sourced from established vendors and a focus on targeted digital marketing through social media and email campaigns. The relaunch capitalized on the growing e-commerce demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling rapid adaptation to virtual shopping trends. Post-relaunch, Dressbarn achieved an annual revenue run rate of $65 million by late 2020, demonstrating viability in the digital space. As of 2025, the brand continues to operate exclusively online, introducing new seasonal collections such as the 2025 Dress Collection and offering free shipping on orders over $75 to enhance customer accessibility. In September 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged REV co-founders Tai Lopez and Alex Mehr with conducting a $112 million Ponzi-like scheme involving the misuse of investor funds for REV's retail acquisitions, including Dressbarn.

Business model and operations

Product offerings and target demographic

Dressbarn's primary product offerings centered on women's casual and professional clothing, encompassing dresses, tops, bottoms, outerwear, and accessories designed for versatility across work, everyday, and special occasions. The brand emphasized affordable pricing, with many items priced under $50, such as blouses at $49.95 and dresses on sale for $39.99, appealing to budget-conscious shoppers seeking value without compromising style. Following its 2020 digital relaunch, the assortment evolved from earlier discount overstock models to more curated, trendy selections featuring in-season feminine fashion in moderate to better quality fabrics. In terms of sizing inclusivity, Dressbarn provided regular sizes ranging from 0 to 18, plus-size options up to 24, and petite collections to accommodate diverse body types. The plus-size Dress Barn Woman line, launched in 1989, targeted women in sizes 8 to 14 initially, expanding over time to broaden accessibility. This multi-size approach allowed the brand to serve a wider array of figures, with current offerings explicitly marketed as "the perfect size for EVERY body" across regular, plus, and petite categories. The target demographic historically focused on middle-aged women aged 35 to 55 seeking budget-friendly, practical fashion for career and casual needs. Dressbarn's unique selling points included colorful, comfortable fabrics that prioritized "high quality, color, and comfort," a slogan revived in the 2020 relaunch to underscore the brand's commitment to approachable, feel-good style. This positioning differentiated it in the value apparel market, emphasizing pieces that blended trendiness with everyday wearability for its core customers.

Retail format evolution

Dressbarn began with a spartan, warehouse-like retail format in the early 1960s, characterized by small stores lacking basic amenities such as parking and dressing rooms to minimize costs and emphasize self-service discounting of women's apparel. The first store opened in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1962, followed by a second in 1963 and a third in a renovated barn that doubled as a distribution center, reflecting an austere design with minimal fixtures and racks for overstock and closeout merchandise. This low-overhead approach supported rapid early expansion while targeting budget-conscious professional women with career-oriented clothing at 20-50% below department store prices. During the 1980s and 1990s, Dressbarn evolved toward larger, more polished formats amid national growth, transitioning from standalone discount outlets to combo stores integrating standard and plus-size (Dress Barn Woman) offerings in shared spaces of 7,000 to 8,000 square feet. By the late 1990s, the chain operated over 700 locations, with many in strip centers but increasing presence in malls (reaching 251 mall-based stores by 2010), featuring brighter lighting, fitting rooms, and branded displays to enhance the shopping experience and accommodate designer labels like Liz Claiborne at discounted rates. Average store size grew to approximately 7,700 square feet by 2010, with total Dressbarn square footage at 6.4 million across 833 locations, prioritizing coordinated merchandise presentation and service-oriented staff in comfortable environments. In the 2010s, Dressbarn adapted through supply chain integration, leveraging centralized distribution centers in Suffern, New York, and Etna Township, Ohio, for faster inventory turnover and efficient replenishment of casual and career women's apparel. The company introduced loyalty programs like the 2011 blushPERKS initiative, allowing in-store sign-ups to earn points on purchases for rewards, alongside private-label credit cards serving over 2 million cardholders since the early 2000s to foster repeat visits. In-store events, such as one-on-one styling sessions during rebranding efforts in 2017, added experiential elements to the hybrid model, while early e-commerce via dressbarn.com—launched in 2000, paused in 2001, and resumed by 2003—began supplementing physical sales without overshadowing the store-centric approach until 2019.

E-commerce transition

Following the closure of all its physical stores in 2019, Dressbarn transitioned to a fully digital model under new ownership by Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), relaunching its e-commerce platform on dressbarn.com in January 2020 powered by Shopify Plus. The revamped site featured improved search functionality and curated collections to enhance user-friendly navigation, alongside mobile-responsive design inherent to the Shopify platform, enabling seamless browsing across devices. A generous 30-day return policy for unworn items with original tags further supported customer confidence in online purchases. To drive growth, REV implemented targeted digital strategies including email campaigns and social media re-engagement efforts to reconnect with lapsed customers, complemented by influencer partnerships such as fashion blogger takeovers on platforms like Instagram. The platform expanded to include dedicated sections for new arrivals and clearance items, with filtering options for plus sizes to improve personalization and accessibility. These initiatives, alongside search engine optimization tactics to boost visibility, helped capitalize on pandemic-era online shopping surges. Operationally, the shift emphasized centralized inventory management and data-driven purchasing by a team of experienced buyers, achieving free shipping on orders over $75 to encourage higher basket sizes. This streamlined approach contributed to rapid revenue acceleration, achieving a $65 million annual run rate by mid-2020, with monthly revenue doubling post-launch. As of 2025, Dressbarn operates exclusively online with no physical locations, maintaining seasonal offerings like the 2025 Dress Collection and ongoing updates to new arrivals and clearance inventories, though recent data indicates declining sales. However, by 2024, annual revenue had fallen to about $1.1 million, with forecasts predicting a decline of over 50% in 2025. The platform continues to prioritize quick delivery and customer-centric features, positioning the brand for sustained digital growth.

Corporate structure

Ownership history

Dress Barn was founded in 1962 by Elliot Jaffe and his wife Roslyn Jaffe in Stamford, Connecticut, operating as a privately held company under the family's control until 1983. The company went public on May 3, 1983, listing on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol DBRN with an initial share price of $23, marking the transition to broader public ownership while the Jaffe family retained significant influence. During this public era, which lasted until Ascena Retail Group's bankruptcy in 2020, the company grew nationally. In January 2011, The Dress Barn, Inc. underwent a holding company reorganization, emerging as Ascena Retail Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASNA), with Dressbarn functioning as a key subsidiary brand within the expanded retail portfolio. Facing operational challenges, Ascena Retail Group initiated a wind-down of Dressbarn's physical stores in May 2019 and sold the brand's intellectual property and select assets to Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), a Miami-based private equity firm specializing in digital retail revivals. As of November 2025, Dressbarn continues under REV's ownership. REV was founded by Tai Lopez and Alex Mehr, who have focused on its e-commerce operations; however, in September 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged Lopez and Mehr with securities fraud related to misleading investors in REV's offerings.

Key executives and leadership

Dressbarn was founded in 1962 by Elliot Jaffe and his wife Roslyn Jaffe in Stamford, Connecticut, with Elliot serving as the initial CEO and focusing on establishing a discount retail model for women's apparel that emphasized affordable, fashionable clothing in a no-frills warehouse-style environment. Roslyn Jaffe, as co-founder and head of merchandising, played a pivotal role in curating product selections and store layouts, becoming one of the early women leaders in the male-dominated retail industry by leveraging her expertise to appeal to working women seeking value-driven fashion; she died on April 12, 2025. Under Elliot's leadership through the 1990s and into the early 2000s, the company expanded from a single store to a national chain, culminating in its initial public offering in 1983, which provided capital for further growth. Elliot transitioned to chairman in 2002 while remaining influential until his passing in 2023. David Jaffe, son of the founders, joined the company in 1992 and rose through various roles before becoming president and CEO in 2002, succeeding his father and guiding Dressbarn through a period of aggressive expansion and acquisitions. During his tenure in the 2000s, David oversaw key operational shifts, including the 2005 acquisition of Maurices and the 2009 purchase of Tween Brands, which diversified the portfolio and positioned the company for rebranding as Ascena Retail Group in 2011, with Dressbarn as a core subsidiary. His leadership emphasized scaling the family business into a Fortune 500 entity while maintaining focus on value-oriented women's wear, though the company faced increasing competitive pressures in the retail sector by the mid-2010s. David stepped down as CEO and chairman of Ascena in 2019 amid ongoing challenges, including declining sales at Dressbarn. Following the 2009 integration into what became Ascena Retail Group, Dressbarn operated under the oversight of Ascena's executive team, with David Jaffe continuing as CEO of the parent company through the 2010s, managing brand-specific challenges such as shifting consumer preferences and e-commerce competition. In 2018, Erin Stern was promoted to president of Dressbarn within Ascena, where she focused on revitalizing the brand through merchandising updates and operational efficiencies amid store performance issues that led to the announcement of all 650 locations' closure in 2019. After Ascena's wind-down of Dressbarn's physical operations in late 2019, Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV) acquired the brand's intellectual property and e-commerce assets, relaunched as an online-only retailer in 2020 under the leadership of co-founders Alex Mehr and Tai Lopez. Alex Mehr, as CEO of REV, drove the digital relaunch strategy, emphasizing a Shopify-powered platform to modernize inventory management, personalized marketing, and direct-to-consumer sales targeting the brand's core demographic of value-seeking women. Tai Lopez, as co-owner, influenced the marketing approach by leveraging social media and influencer partnerships to rebuild brand awareness and drive online traffic post-relaunch. In September 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged Mehr and Lopez with securities fraud in connection with REV's investor offerings.

References

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