Aéropostale (clothing)

From The Matrix

Aéropostale (NYSE: ARO) is a clothing retailer oriented towards teenagers ages 11-18, selling athletically geared, casual clothing at competitive yet reasonable price. The Aéropostale name originated from a 1920s French/Latin-American airmail firm, Compagnie Générale Aéropostale.

Some consider it a "knock-off" of other preppy retailers such as American Eagle Outfitters and Abercrombie and Fitch. Although all three stores carry a similar style of clothing, Aéropostale tends to target lower age groups (11-18 as opposed to 15-25 of American Eagle Outfitters.) Aéropostale stocks the usual teen outerwear (jeans, T-shirts, accessories), mostly under the Aéropostale and Aéro names. Aéropostale maintains control over its proprietary brands and quickly responds to trends by designing, marketing and selling all of its own merchandise. Its products can currently be purchased only in its stores, or on-line through its website, or at organized sales events at college campuses. The first Aéropostale store was opened in 1987. Macy's current parent, Federated Department Stores, sold Aéropostale to its management and Bear Stearns Merchant Banking in 1998. As of January 4, 2006, the company operated 660 stores in 47 states. Aeropostale has also acquired another brand, Jimmy'Z, which adds 14 stores in 11 states to the Aéro family.

[edit] Pronunciation

Not many people know how to pronounce this retailer's brand name; however, variations include:
air - o - paws' - dal
air- ro - pos' - tal
air - o - paws' - tal

in no particular order.