Retail Brand Alliance Opens New Casual Corner  Store
 

Enfield, CT, September, 2001 -Retail Brand Alliance is pleased to announce the opening of its latest super store including Casual Corner  and Petite Sophisticate at River Park Square. The new store offers terrific one-stop shopping for the latest in women's career and casual fashions, accessories and shoes at everyday great prices.

Featuring Casual Corner  (sizes 2-16) and Petite Sophisticate (sizes 0-14), this latest store offers a variety of wardrobing solutions for fashion--conscious women all under one roof. Also available is the versatile Collectibles line -a year-round collection of beautifully tailored career classics in black, navy, and brown that suit up or go their separate ways. Key seasonal pieces in coordinating colors and prints finish the look with style and presence.

Casual Corner  and Petite Sophisticate is slated to open by Thanksgiving and will   be the "' fifth tenant to open at River Park Square this year, joining 26 other specialty retailers, Nordstrom, AMC theatres, two family-style restaurants and the Atrium Cafes on 3.

“Shoppers at River Park Square will find Casual Corner  to be a complementary addition to the existing tenant mix," says Candace Frasher, marketing director for River Park Square. "The store should also draw new customers to the retail center."  The new River Park Square location is the retailer's first in eastern Washington. It operates one Seattle store and two western Washington outlets, with 1000 stores nationwide.

The Casual Corner  Group store offers women a superb shopping environment
with experienced and knowledgeable sales associates and versatile wardrobing options designed for both casual and career dressing. "Our philosophy is simple,”  says Claudio Del Vecchio. "A woman should be able to walk out with a complete wardrobe that will suit her lifestyle in every way. ..personally, professionally and socially. We want her to feel good about the piece she buys knowing that she did not have to drain her bank account to do it."

Casual Corner  was founded on April I, 1950 in West Hartford, Connecticut. Charles Carples and Stan Vogel were the inspiration behind the initial store, with Mrs. Carples and Mrs. Vogel as the original sales associates. In 1969, the company was purchased by the U.S. Shoe Corporation, and in 1980 the Women's Specialty Retailing Group was formed, with Petite Sophisticate and August Max Woman under their umbrella. ..expanding the company's market to include special sizes.

In May of 1995, Luxottica Group Spa, world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of high quality eyewear, acquired the U.S. Shoe Corporation and, a few short months later, the Women's Specialty Retailing Group became Casual Corner  Group, Inc., owned by the Del Vecchio family, who also controls Luxottica Group. Under the direction of Claudio Del Vecchio, Casual Corner  Group has grown and prospered with over 10,000 employees and 1,000 stores nationwide. In February of 2001, the company acquired the trademark and related assets and contracts of Adrienne Vittadini and in July of 2001, acquired Caro1ee Designs, Inc. Simultaneous with its purchase of Carolee Designs, Casual Corner  Group was renamed Retail Brand Alliance to more accurately reflect Mr. Del Vecchio’s image, which is to be a premier retail group with a portfolio of highly specialized fashion companies, each with its own distinct brand positioning and consumer identity. Associates nationwide share the company's single vision of success: "To make Casual Corner , Petite Sophisticate and August Max Woman the destination stores for women seeking fashionable, high quality clothing at outstanding values."