Full Description

The Buckle, Inc., incorporated in 1948, is a retailer of medium to better-priced casual apparel, footwear and accessories for fashion conscious young men and women. As of January 31, 2009, the Company operated 387 retail stores in 39 states throughout the continental United States under the names Buckle and The Buckle. The Company markets a selection of mostly brand name casual apparel, including denims, other casual bottoms, tops, sportswear, outerwear, accessories and footwear. The Company provides customer services, such as free hemming, free gift-wrapping, easy layaways, the Buckle private label credit card and a frequent shopper program. Most stores are located in regional shopping malls and lifestyle centers. The Company had 387 stores as of January 31, 2009.

Brand name merchandise accounted for approximately 72% of the Company's sales during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2009 (fiscal 2008). The remaining balance is comprises private label merchandise that is manufactured to the Company's specifications. The Company offers brands, such as Big Star, MEK, Affliction, Sinful, Lucky Brand Dungarees, Silver, Hurley, Billabong, Fossil, Quiksilver/Roxy, Miss Me, 7 Diamonds, OBEY and Ed Hardy. As of March 13, 2009, the Company operated 391 stores in 40 states. The existing stores are in four downtown locations, nine strip centers, 35 lifestyle centers and 343 shopping malls.

The Company competes with Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, Hollister, Hot Topic, Gap, Pacific Sunwear, Metropark, Dillards, Federated stores, Parisian, Saks, Bon-Ton stores, Express, Aeropostale, Maurices, Wet Seal, Forever 21 and Vanity.