Gadzooks! It's an Orchid

Gadzooks, Inc. (Dallas) has announced it will test a new mall-based retail concept this holiday season, called Orchid, catering to “the unique innerwear and sleepwear needs of females between the ages of 14 and 22.”

The stores, designed in conjunction with FRCH Design Worldwide (Cincinnati), will open in November in regional shopping malls in Texas and Louisiana.

“Our market research and experience with the junior customer indicates that there is an opportunity in the marketplace that no one else is adequately addressing,” said chairman and ceo Jerry Szczepanski. 'In developing the new concept, we felt that it was important to stay within the company's experience and leverage our understanding of the special needs of our core junior customer. We want the customer to feel that Orchid is her place to comfortably shop for the items that allow her to express her personality and individuality.

“We need to ensure that we have strong and viable growth vehicles for years to come.”

Gadzooks currently operates 409 mall-based apparel and accessories stores in metropolitan and middle markets in 39 states for young men and women principally between the ages of 14 and 18.