The Gap (clothing retailer)

:This article is about the clothing retailer. For other uses see The Gap (which is a disambiguation page).

History

The Gap was founded in 1969 by Donald Fisher and Doris Fisher. The name came from the growing differences between children and adults, called "the generation gap", which reached its peak with the hippie movement. The Fishers had been frustrated with the lack of decent customer service and fashionable styles at other retailers. One of the original mottos of the company was "Levi's for Guys and Gals." The Gap began creating its own private label clothing in 1982 and had stopped carrying other labels altogether by 1990, when Gap stopped carrying Levi's jeans.

Related Topics:
1969 - Donald Fisher - Generation gap - Hippie - Levi's - 1982 - 1990 - Jeans

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As of April 2, 2005, Gap Inc. had approximately 150,000 employees and operated 3,005 stores worldwide.

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Donald Fisher retired as Chairman of the Board in 2004 and was replaced by his son, Robert Fisher. The Fisher family collectively owns about 25% of the company. The current CEO of the Gap is Paul Pressler, who previously ran the Disney theme parks.

Related Topics:
CEO - Paul Pressler - Disney theme parks

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Banana Republic, formerly a catalog retailer selling safari themed clothing, was purchased by the company in 1983, and eventually was rebranded as an upscale clothing retailer. Old Navy was launched in 1994, as a value chain with a specialty flair.

Related Topics:
Banana Republic - 1983 - Old Navy - 1994

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In December of 1995 the Gap became the first major North American retailer to accept independent monitoring of the working conditions in a contract factory producing its garments. This acceptance came after an international campaign of media criticism and consumer pressure that was organized in Canada by the Maquila Solidarity Network and the Ontario District Council of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE). In the United States the campaign was coordinated by the National Labor Committee.

Related Topics:
1995 - Working conditions - Canada - Maquila Solidarity Network - Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees - United States - National Labor Committee

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In 2004, the Gap sold all of its German operations to the Swedish H&M, its main competitor in Europe.

Related Topics:
2004 - H&M

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In September 2004, the Gap announced the launch of a new chain called Forth & Towne; its first location opened on August 24, 2005, in the Palisades Center in West Nyack, New York. The chain's selection will be targeted at women older than 35. (More Information)

Related Topics:
September - Forth & Towne - August 24 - 2005 - Palisades Center - West Nyack, New York

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