The county’s been long identified with world-famous sneaker companies, surf and skate-inspired apparel companies, and cosmetics giants. Here’s a trio of brands that are carrying on OC’s role in shaping the look and style for the rest of the country.
Alfred Chang
Co-CEO
Pacific Sunwear of California LLC
Anaheim
Instagram: @pacsun
BIO: Led reinvention of one of OC’s best-known retail firms, and one of OC’s largest fashion retailers with a workforce of about 7,400, and some 375 stores. Turned PacSun into one of country’s largest “cool kid” brands. Served as president since 2018, with a focus on rebuilding, refocusing business. Shift to a more fashionable mix of streetwear rather than surf-inspired gear, such as in collaborations with much sought after contemporary streetwear label Fear of God. Promotion to co-CEO effective by next month. Has over 20 years of experience in the retail industry, including serving in multiple senior positions since joining the company in 2006.
NOTABLE: PacSun generated over $700M in sales in 2020, representing growth over 2019, despite the pandemic. Digital sales more than doubled in 2020, now representing 50% of the brand’s sales.
QUOTABLE: Of key trend in industry, says there’s “a higher base of authenticity, what a brand means to a consumer and how important it is in terms of your positioning and what you represent.”
JAMES CONROY
CEO, President
Boot Barn Holdings Inc.
NYSE: BOOT
Instagram: @boot_barn_official
WHY: Runs western-inspired, work wear retailer that’s defied industry trends and continues to expand. Company, which started in 1978 with a 2,000-square-foot store in Huntington Beach, now publicly traded behemoth worth about $2B. Sales largely from in-person shopping, not digital. Typical Boot Barn customer likes coming into the store two or three times a year to feel the different skins on a pair of boots or try on their jeans, he says.
NOTABLE: New flagship store unveiled in Orange; design bears elements that will be rolled into new and remodeled stores moving forward, as the 271-store chain looks to open around 30 stores annually, with an average size of roughly 11,000 to 12,000 square feet.
QUOTABLE: “We have four pieces of the strategy, four pillars. Our focus is to just execute relentlessly on building new stores, developing our own exclusive brands, continuing to add omnichannel capabilities and drive same-store sales growth.”
MANNA KADAR
Founder, CEO
Manna Kadar Cosmetics
Irvine
Instagram: @mannakadarbeauty
WHY: Beauty guru who founded multi-brand business in 2011. One of OC’s fastest-growing private companies several years running. Adding 20K new doors with focus on affordable luxury at Five Below, Big Lots. Created line of antibacterial face washes, toners and hand sanitizers last year. Other product lines include Manna Kadar Bath & Beauty, Haute Dog, Mason Man Skincare and Beauty & the Bump, which are sold at retailers including Ulta and Urban Outfitters, as well as beauty box subscription companies and home shopping networks.
NOTABLE: Part of Amazon’s Influencer Program, allowing Kadar to livestream products to a wide audience. Recent livestreams earlier this month focused on Amazon products she used to organize her kitchen. The hour-long stream went through her kitchen pantry, drawers and cupboards. Other livetreams have focused on plenty of hair and beauty tutorials, mixed in with more personal streams such as charcuterie boards and Easter décor.
QUOTABLE: “One of our mantras to the brand has [always] been affordable luxury and we have various lines of business that funnel into that.” See page 1 for more.
