Marc Bertone, who as vp of real estate helped grow Hot Topic's music-inspired retail chain to more than 300 stores in 47 states, has resigned from the company, effective July 13, 2001. No replacement has been named.
“Marc has made a significant contribution over the past seven years as we grew from a 20-store regional concept into a 300 store national chain,” said Betsy McLaughlin, president and ceo of the City of Industry, Calif.-based organization.
Hot Topic stores sell its merchandise for the MTV generation in industrial warehouse settings. Licensed T-shirts, caps, and other clothing account for nearly 50 percent of its sales. It also carries posters, stickers, jewelry, cosmetics and sunglasses targeted at 12- to 22-year-olds. Its private-label Morbid brand products (including Morbid Threads and Morbid Makeup) account for 20 percent of its sales. The retailer has been opening about 50 new stores each year, including Torrid stores for plus-sized young women.