Abercrombie & Fitch

David Abercrombie founded A&F as an upscale sporting goods store in a small waterfront shop in downtown Manhattan, New York. Ezra Fitch joined as co-founder in 1900.

In 1904, Abercrombie Co. transforms into Abercrombie & Fitch with the partnership of Ezra Fitch. The store gains recognition for outfitting prominent figures like President Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, Charles Lindbergh, and Amelia Earhart.

Due to disagreements in the vision for the company, Abercrombie sold his share to Fitch in 1907, who then became the sole owner and continued to lead the company.

Fitch started as a frequent customer and later became a co-owner with Abercrombie.

By 1910, Abercrombie & Fitch expanded to include women's clothing and moved to a more fashionable location near Fifth Avenue.

The company relocated to Madison Avenue in 1917.

In 1927, the company provided Charles Lindbergh with equipment for his historic flight across the Atlantic Ocean, showcasing its reputation for quality and reliability.

In January 18, 1928, Abercrombie & Fitch's co-founder Fitch retired and handed over the business to James Cobb.

According to Funding Universe, Abercrombie & Fitch achieved a record $6.3 million in sales in 1929.

After facing a decrease in revenue during the Great Depression, Abercrombie & Fitch recovered and resumed paying dividends in 1938. Guns accounted for a significant portion of sales at the Madison Avenue store during this time.

By 1939, Abercrombie & Fitch was branding itself as the 'Greatest Sporting Goods Store in the World' with an extensive collection of firearms and fishing equipment.

On June 11, 1947, Abercrombie & Fitch's co-founder Fitch transferred his shares in the company to his brother-in-law.

In 1958, Abercrombie & Fitch expanded by opening a store in San Francisco.

In 1964, Abercrombie & Fitch was prominently featured in the romantic comedy film Man's Favorite Sport?, showcasing the brand's integration into popular culture through product placement.

Abercrombie & Fitch aired its first television commercial in 1969.

On August 11, 1976, Abercrombie and Fitch filed for bankruptcy after facing financial difficulties.

In 1977, Abercrombie & Fitch faced financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy. It marked a significant event in the company's history.

On April 11, 1978, Oshman's Sporting Goods purchased the Abercrombie and Fitch name.

By April 11, 1986, the net sales of the sports equipment stores had reached between 40 to 45 million.

On April 11, 1988, The Limited company acquired 25 out of the 27 existing Abercrombie & Fitch stores.

On April 11, 1992, Michael Jeffries took on the role of president within the company. He played a significant role in shaping the company's direction.

On September 26, 1996, Abercrombie & Fitch was taken public on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol 'ANF' and an offering price of $16 per share.

In 1996, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. becomes a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the ticker symbol ANF.

In 1997, Abercrombie & Fitch launched A&F Quarterly, a publication featuring photography, interviews, and articles on various teen interests.

In 1998, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. spins off from The Limited and introduces the abercrombie kids brand, expanding its market presence.

On July 12, 1999, the company filed a lawsuit against American Eagle Outfitters for reasons undisclosed. This legal action marked a significant event in the company's history.

Abercrombie & Fitch filed a lawsuit against American Eagle Outfitters for allegedly copying its trademark merchandise and image.

On October 18, 1999, Abercrombie & Fitch settled a lawsuit for making false and misleading statements about its growth to meet Wall Street expectations. The company paid $6,050,000 for the settlement.

Abercrombie & Fitch expanded its brand by opening the first Hollister store, targeting a different segment of customers.

In 2002, Abercrombie & Fitch faced backlash for selling a shirt with a racially insensitive slogan and imagery depicting 19th century Chinese immigrants. The company discontinued the design and issued an apology following a boycott led by a Stanford University Asian American student group.

In 2003, a class action lawsuit was filed against Abercrombie & Fitch, accusing the company of discriminatory hiring practices towards African American, Latino, and Asian American applicants. The lawsuit alleged that store managers were instructed to reject applicants who did not fit the 'A&F look.'

In 2004, Abercrombie & Fitch faced a lawsuit where they were accused of discriminating against African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and women by preferentially offering certain positions to Caucasian males. The company agreed to a settlement that included various measures to address the discrimination.

The Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania initiated a 'Girlcott' against Abercrombie & Fitch in 2005 for selling offensive T-shirts with derogatory messages towards women. The campaign gained national attention, leading to the removal of the shirts from stores.

Abercrombie & Fitch opened its first store outside of the U.S. in the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada on January 20, 2006.

A year later, on March 22, 2007, Abercrombie & Fitch expanded internationally by opening a store in London, England.

On June 17, 2009, A&F announced the closure of its struggling Ruehl No.925 brand by January 2010 due to financial difficulties.

In October 2009, despite financial challenges, A&F opened its second European location, a flagship store, in Milan. The opening was celebrated as the biggest consumer reception in A&F history.

On December 15, 2009, A&F opened its first ever location in Asia with a flagship store in Tokyo, Japan. The opening marked a significant retail event, generating substantial revenue on the first day.

On July 17, 2010, A&F announced the relaunch of the A&F Quarterly as part of its marketing campaign to attract more consumer attention and sales.

In November 2010, Abercrombie & Fitch faced criticism for prohibiting an employee from wearing a remembrance poppy, leading to a policy change.

In 2011, the Belgian Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism initiated an investigation into Abercrombie & Fitch's hiring and remuneration policies. The company was suspected of discriminatory practices related to age, physical appearance demands, and unequal pay based on gender.

On February 15, 2012, A&F announced plans to close underperforming U.S. stores while focusing on expanding in Europe and Asia.

In 2013, A 2006 interview with then-CEO Mike Jeffries resurfaced, where he made controversial comments about A&F's target market, stating that the brand is only suitable for 'the good-looking, cool kids' and excluding overweight individuals. These comments sparked public backlash and accusations of discrimination.

In August 2014, Abercrombie & Fitch adjusted its business strategy to focus on trendier styles and faster production processes, moving towards fast fashion while maintaining its upscale image.

In December 2014, Michael Jeffries, who had been the CEO of the company for 22 years, resigned. This marked a significant change in leadership for the company.

In the summer of 2015, Katia Kuethe, who previously worked at Lucky Magazine, became the new creative director at Abercrombie & Fitch, a move seen as a positive step for the brand.

Abercrombie & Fitch decided to target an older, socially conscientious consumer aged 18 to 25 in fall 2015, marking a significant change in their marketing strategy.

Abercrombie & Fitch has undergone multiple transformations throughout its history.

In January 2017, Abercrombie & Fitch announced the termination of 150 Home Office employees. This decision impacted the company's internal operations and workforce.

In February 2017, Fran Horowitz took over as the CEO of the company. This change in leadership signaled a new era for Abercrombie & Fitch.

In April 2017, Standard & Poor's reported that Abercrombie & Fitch had a market value of $650 million and $420 million cash on hand. This financial information provided insights into the company's standing in the market.

In early July 2017, negotiations for the sale of Abercrombie & Fitch failed, leading to a 21% drop in the company's stock price. This event had significant implications for the company's future.

In February 2019, Abercrombie & Fitch's mobile app was reported to record users' activities without consent and send the data to a third-party firm, compromising users' privacy. This raised concerns about the app's data practices.

In Q1 2021, Abercrombie & Fitch reported its best second-quarter operating income and margin since 2008, with sales exceeding pre-pandemic levels. This indicated a strong financial performance for the company.

Despite showing signs of improvement, Abercrombie & Fitch still faces significant challenges in the retail market. Moody's analyst Mike Zuccaro highlighted the competitive environment and the importance of offering products that provide value to consumers.

In 2023, Abercrombie & Fitch Co updated their website's Terms of Use and Privacy Notice to ensure user data protection and legal compliance.

A&F Co. achieves a milestone by surpassing $1 billion in digital sales for the first time in its history.