Abercrombie’s “Fourth Concept”

Abercrombie & Fitch (New Albany, Ohio) is about to launch a new concept store next month.

According to an article in The New York Times, the “fourth concept” will be geared to an older group, perhaps 25 to 35. Executives will only say they will open four “test” locations sometime in August.

The retailer currently operates three other chains: Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister and abercrombie, the elementary school brand.

The Times noted that last month, an anonymous executive was quoted in a trade newspaper as saying the company wanted to position the fourth concept “somewhere between Banana Republic and Prada.’’ A spokesman for the company, however, rebutted that. “Forget that quote,’’ he told The Times. “It was crazy.”

The company did suggest, however, that the most promising opportunities for its growth may lie overseas. “Canada is more likely than someplace like Russia – at least initially,” said president Robert Singer, formerly an executive of The Gucci Group (Milan, Italy). “Japan is an even better prospect. Japanese buyers spend a lot of money on our Web site.”