Examine individual changes

'{{about|the retail chain|countries dependent on a single, limited-resource export|Banana republic|other uses|Banana republic (disambiguation)}} {{short description|American retailer}} {{Infobox company | name = Banana Republic | logo = Banana Republic logo.png | logo_size = 250px | caption = | type = Division of Gap | foundation = {{nowrap|{{start date and age|1978}}<br>[[Mill Valley, California]], U.S.}} | founders = [[Mel Ziegler]]<br>[[Patricia Ziegler]] | location = {{nowrap|[[San Francisco]], California, U.S.}} | locations = 700 (2017) | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = [[Sonia Syngal]] <small>([[Chief executive officer|CEO]] of parent Gap, Inc.)</small><br>Mark Breitbard ([[President (corporate title)|President]] & CEO) | industry = [[Retail]] | parent = [[Gap Inc.]] (1983–present) | products = Clothing | homepage = [http://www.bananarepublic.com/ BananaRepublic.com] }} '''Banana Republic''' is an American clothing and accessories retailer owned by the American [[multinational corporation]] [[Gap Inc.]] It was founded in 1978 by [[Mel Ziegler|Mel and Patricia Ziegler]], who originally called the company "Banana Republic Travel & Safari Clothing Company." The original concept for the company was to sell items that fit a safari theme. In 1983, Gap purchased the company, changed the name to "Banana Republic," and rebranded the stores to achieve a more upscale image.<ref name="msnbc">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/24205563 |title=Major retailers launch upscale collections - Business - Retail &#124; NBC News |work=NBC News |date=2008-04-20 |access-date=2013-03-03}}</ref> ==History== The original Banana Republic was founded by [[Mel Ziegler|Mel]] and [[Patricia Ziegler]] in 1978.<ref>Klara, Robert [http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/banana-republic-was-mainstream-fashion-it-was-weirdly-wonderful-safari-brand-170059 Before Banana Republic Was Mainstream Fashion, It Was a Weirdly Wonderful Safari Brand: Revisiting the pith helmets, Jeeps and life-size giraffes] ''AdWeek''. March 17, 2016</ref> The couple was known for acquiring interesting clothing items that their travel-related jobs brought them in contact with. They eventually opened a store in the [[Mill Valley, California|Mill Valley]] area of Northern California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lancercreative.com/2013/05/banana-republic-a-look-back/|title=Banana Republic: A Look Back - Lancer Creative Services|website=Lancercreative.com|access-date=14 July 2016}}</ref> They were known for a hand-drawn catalogue of items with fictional traveler/explorer stories printed alongside, and their safari-themed retail sugar is the best food He aint lyin | HOW DO WE MAKE MCDONALDS BETTER?! More toys! Free food! actually serve good food and fix the ice cream machine. | image tagged in memes,boardroom meeting suggestion,FreeKarma4U | made w/ Imgflip meme makerlocations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scottcadams.com/bananarepublic/the-adventure-begins/|title=The Adventure Begins....|date=10 May 2011|website=Scottcadams.com|access-date=14 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406094915/http://scottcadams.com/bananarepublic/the-adventure-begins/|archive-date=6 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://discoveries.vdaproductions.com/articles/29724/banana-republic-themed-retail-that-once-was/|title=Banana Republic - Themed Retail That Once Was|website=Discoveries.vdaproductions.com|access-date=14 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709065438/http://discoveries.vdaproductions.com/articles/29724/banana-republic-themed-retail-that-once-was/|archive-date=9 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Zieglers recount their adventures in the first ten years in their memoir, Wild Company, published in 2012 by Simon and Schuster.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}} [[Gap Inc.]] acquired Banana Republic in 1983.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/09/business/gap-inc-to-cut-growth-of-banana-republic-unit.html|title=Gap Inc. to Cut Growth Of Banana Republic Unit|last=Times|first=Lawrence M. Fisher and Special To the New York|access-date=2018-07-13|language=en}}</ref> eventually rebranding it as a mainstream luxury clothing retailer. The literate articles, hand-drawn catalog, and eccentric tourist-oriented items were phased out and were replaced with more luxurious, but not unique, items for which the brand is currently known.<ref name="adweek.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/banana-republic-was-mainstream-fashion-it-was-weirdly-wonderful-safari-brand-170059/|title=Before Banana Republic Was Mainstream Fashion, It Was a Weirdly Wonderful Safari Brand|access-date=2018-07-13|language=en-US}}</ref> ==Locations== [[File:Banana Republic, 107 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, USA - Mar 2013.jpg|thumb|Inside the store]] [[Image:banamtl2.jpg|thumb|Banana Republic on Saint Catherine Street in [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]].]] [[File:BananaRepublicMarkville.jpg|thumb|Banana Republic in [[Markville Shopping Centre]]]] [[File:Banana Republic, Bonifacio Global City.jpg|thumb|right|A Banana Republic outlet in [[Bonifacio Global City]], [[Philippines]]]] The company operates more than 500 Banana Republic stores in the United States (including [[Puerto Rico]]), 40 stores in Canada, and 61 stores beyond North America. The Gap, Inc. is expanding its international presence with franchise agreements for Gap and Banana Republic in [[Asia]], [[Europe]], and the [[Middle East]]. In 2015 Banana Republic opened a new flagship in [[Manhattan]] on [[Fifth Avenue]] and 18th Street. Banana Republic opened its first store outside North America in 2005 in Tokyo's [[Ginza]] shopping district. Banana Republic's presence in South Korea debuted in August 2007 with a store in the [[Apkujeong]] district of [[Seoul]]. In 2007, the first Banana Republic stores opened at [[The Avenues (Kuwait)|The Avenues shopping mall]] in [[Kuwait City]], Kuwait; [[Senayan City]] in [[Jakarta]], Indonesia; and [[Pavilion Kuala Lumpur]] in [[Kuala Lumpur]], Malaysia. Banana Republic opened its first store in Turkey in March 2008 in the [[Kanyon Shopping Mall, Istanbul|Kanyon Shopping Mall]] in [[Istanbul]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20120730140249/http://www.fibaholding.com.tr/en/biz.php?bolum=Biz&konu=7]</ref> By May 2008, [[İstinye]] Park Shopping Mall and [[Nişantaşı]] stores were also opened in Istanbul. More stores are planned to be opened in [[Ankara]] and [[İzmir]] by the end of 2008 to bring the total number of stores in Turkey to six.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130418144248/http://www.fibaholding.com.tr/tr/sirketler.php?gid=4&sid=63]</ref> Banana Republic opened in Saudi Arabia in late 2008, with a store in [[Mall of Arabia (Jeddah)|Mall of Arabia]] in [[Jeddah]] and a second in Riyadh Gallery Mall in [[Riyadh]] in March 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 June 2007|title=Gap Inc. to launch in Turkey, Saudi Arabia|url=https://chainstoreage.com/news/gap-inc-launch-turkey-saudi-arabia|access-date=26 November 2020|website=Chain Store Age}}</ref> In March 2008, Banana Republic opened its {{convert|17000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} store on [[Regent Street]] in London, England.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regentstreetonline.com/NR/exeres/77E1FDC6-9A0A-4F3E-8B6D-7645BF887A03,frameless.htm?NRMODE=Published|title=Regent Street Online|website=Regentstreetonline.com|access-date=14 July 2016}}</ref> On May 9, 2008, Banana Republic opened its store on [[Greenbelt (Ayala Center)|Greenbelt 5]] in [[Makati City]], Philippines.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Garceau|first=Therese|date=7 May 2008|title=Yes, we have now Banana Republic|url=https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/fashion-and-beauty/2008/05/07/60668/yes-we-have-now-banana-republic|access-date=26 November 2020|website=philstar}}</ref> In October 2016, Banana Republic announced that it would close all its UK stores by the end of the year, due to falling sales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/18/gap-to-shut-all-banana-republic-shops-in-the-uk|title=Gap to shut all Banana Republic shops in the UK|last=Reuters|date=18 October 2016|via=The Guardian}}</ref> As of 2017, Banana Republic had over 700 locations.<ref name="adweek.com"/> In August 2020, Banana Republic alongside Gap announced that they will close over 225 store locations as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The original plan was to close only 90 stores, however, they expanded the number as a consequence of the financial effects caused by the pandemic. The company has not stated the exact locations that will be closed, but most will be stores within malls.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/28/business/gap-banana-republic-store-closures/|title=Gap is closing more than 200 stores this year|publisher=[[CNN Business]]|last=Valinsky|first=Jordan|date=August 28, 2020|access-date=August 29, 2020}}</ref> ==Clothing lines== {| |- |valign="top"| ;Collections *BR Monogram<ref name="msnbc" /> *Heritage *Sunday Sunday *BR Standard(2021) |valign="top"| ;Capsule collections *Trina Turk *Anna Karenina *Mad Men *Milly NY *Issa London *L'Wren Scott *Marimekko *Roland Mouret |} ==Store count== {{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area|Companies}} As of the end of the first quarter of 2011, Banana Republic had 682 company-owned or franchised stores in operation across 32 countries, shipped to 21 countries through company owned websites, and had the ability to ship to more than 50 countries through a 3rd party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gapinc.com/content/dam/gapincsite/documents/Global_Footprint.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=August 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928045705/http://www.gapinc.com/content/dam/gapincsite/documents/Global_Footprint.pdf |archive-date=September 28, 2011 }}</ref> {| style="width:60%;" |- | style="width:15%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left;"| ; North America * {{USA}}: 538 * {{CAN}}: 40 * {{MEX}}: 8 ; Africa * {{MAR}}: 1 * {{SAF}}: 1 ; Europe * {{RUS}}: 5 * {{TUR}}: 2 * {{AZE}}: 1 * {{FRA}}: 1 * {{GEO}}: 1 * {{CRO}}: 1 | style="width:15%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left;"| ; Asia * {{JPN}}: 28 * {{KOR}}: 9 * {{PHI}}: 4 * {{SAU}}: 3 * {{UAE}}: 3 * {{BHR}}: 1 * {{KUW}}: 1 * {{QAT}}: 1 * {{THA}}: 1 * {{VIE}}: 3 | style="width:15%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left;"| ; South America * {{CHL}}: 10 * {{PER}}: 2 * {{COL}}: 1 * {{ARG}}: 1 ; Central America * {{CRI}}: 1 * {{SLV}}: 1<ref>{{cite web|author=EconomĂa |url=http://elmundo.com.sv/roble-inicia-cambios-en-multiplaza-y-metrocentro |title=Noticias de El Salvador &#124; Diario El Mundo » Roble inicia cambios en Multiplaza y Metrocentro |publisher=Elmundo.com.sv |access-date=2013-03-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028144706/http://elmundo.com.sv/roble-inicia-cambios-en-multiplaza-y-metrocentro |archive-date=2012-10-28 }}</ref> |} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{commons category|Banana Republic}} * [http://www.bananarepublic.com/ U.S. official website] * [http://www.bananarepublic.ca/ Canadian official website] * [http://www.bananarepublic.co.jp/ Japanese official website] * [http://www.bananarepublic.eu/ European official website] {{Gap Inc.}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Banana Republic (Clothing Retailer)}} [[Category:Clothing brands of the United States]] [[Category:Shoe brands]] [[Category:Clothing retailers of the United States]] [[Category:Gap brands]] [[Category:Fashion accessory brands]] [[Category:Underwear brands]] [[Category:Retail companies based in California]] [[Category:Companies based in San Francisco]] [[Category:American companies established in 1978]] [[Category:Clothing companies established in 1978]] [[Category:Retail companies established in 1978]] [[Category:1978 establishments in California]] [[Category:Mill Valley, California]] [[Category:Eyewear brands of the United States]] [[Category:1983 mergers and acquisitions]] [[Category:1990s fashion]]'