Abercrombie & Fitch Announces It Will Discontinue Its Quarterly Magazine (PERMANENTLY!)

PRNewswire-FirstCall ^ | December 9, 2003

[Timesink]

Press Release
Source: Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch Announces It Will Discontinue Its Quarterly Magazine

Tuesday December 9, 6:22 pm ET

NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF - News) announced today that it has decided to retire the A&F Quarterly and will cease publication with the Christmas issue. While it has enjoyed success with the Quarterly over the years, the Company believes it is time for new thinking and looks forward to unveiling an innovative and exciting campaign in the Spring.

Abercrombie & Fitch operated a total of 694 stores at the end of November, including 173 abercrombie stores and 164 Hollister Co. stores. The Company operates e-commerce websites at www.abercrombie.com , www.abercrombiekids.com , and www.hollisterco.com .

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995:

The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this Release, the Company's Form 10-K or made by management of the Company involve risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various important factors. The following factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect the Company's financial performance and actual results and could cause actual results for 2003 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements or otherwise made by management: changes in consumer spending patterns and consumer preferences; the effects of political and economic events and conditions domestically and in foreign jurisdictions in which the Company operates, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism or war; the impact of competition and pricing; changes in weather patterns; market price of key raw materials; ability to source product from its global supplier base; litigation; political stability; currency and exchange risks and changes in existing or potential duties, tariffs or quotas; availability of suitable store locations at appropriate terms; ability to develop new merchandise; and ability to hire, train and retain associates.

[KantianBurke]

Bill Clinton is definetly saddened.

[Timesink]

Reuters

Abercrombie turns out lights on racy catalog

Tuesday December 9, 6:33 pm ET

NEW YORK, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Youth-oriented retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF - News) on Tuesday said it would retire its quarterly catalog, which draws regular protests because of its racy photos of scantily clad and sometimes naked young men and women.

Abercrombie & Fitch said its Christmas issue, already recalled from stores earlier this month due to protests from family-values advocates, would be the final publication of the magazine.

"The company believes it is time for new thinking and looks forward to unveiling an innovative and exciting campaign in the spring," Abercrombie & Fitch said in a statement.

[Paul Atreides]

Is it just me, or are conservatives becoming more energized? First, The Reagans, and now this.

[Paul Atreides]

"The company believes it is time for new thinking and looks forward to unveiling an innovative and exciting campaign in the spring," Abercrombie & Fitch said in a statement.

Uh-oh.

[BikerNYC]

Well, back to the Victoria's Secret catalog, I guess.

[TheAngryClam]

YAAAAY! WE REALLY SHOWED THE PORNOGRAPHERS WHO'S BOSS!!!

Next up: Maxim, Stuff for Men, Playboy, the whole Hustler series of magazines, FHM, Rolling Stone, etc. etc.

For victory & freedom!!!

[July 4th]

Probably changed to a 'free sex in the changing rooms' campaign.

[buffyt]

MY thoughts exactly, uh oh!

[rs79bm]

GAP, AE Outfitters do much of the same thing. Nobody is complaining about them.

[Paul Atreides]

It'll probably do NAMBLA proud, whatever it is.

[scab4faa]

YAAAAY! WE REALLY SHOWED THE PORNOGRAPHERS WHO'S BOSS!!!

Next up: Maxim, Stuff for Men, Playboy, the whole Hustler series of magazines, FHM, Rolling Stone, etc. etc.

For victory & freedom?????????

How is this for freedom??? Explain...

[Paul Atreides]

I think that what has angered people the most about A&F are the thongs for tots they were selling. Also, the tots' t-shirts with raunchy catchphrases. I think that, in turn, drew attention to the catalog/magazine. Until recently, I never knew they had such a publication. They are the equivalent of Benetton, in my book.

[mikenola]

If we beleive in free markets shouldn't we be addressing the consumer of these products, not the supplier?

By targeting the producer, don't we buy into the liberal idea that we're all brainwashed drones subservient to the evil corporations?

If people think thongs for kids are a bad idea and stop buying them , won't companies like A&F stop making them?

[Cosmo]

I think he was kidding....I hope.

[bethelgrad]

The issue, IMO, isn't the existence of skin mags, but the intentional marketing of them to kids. Playboy, Maxim, etc.. don't intentionally market to kids. But walk into any A&F store and you will find nothing but teens and below. And look on the walls and you won't find models wearing the latest fashions, but nothing at all!

[BikerNYC]

No, I don't think he was. I think he wants freedom from having to live with things like that.

[carlo3b]

Is it just me, or are conservatives becoming more energized? First, The Reagans, and now this.

It started in 1994, with the sweep of congress, something I never thought I would see in my lifetime. Something is and has been happening for a while. We are beginning to get some meat on our collective bones. Disney, the DIPsie Chicks, and a host of Hollywood types that had their illustrious career handed to them on a  shish kabob.

Martin Sheen was told unequivocally, to SHUT THE #%^$ UP if he wanted his show to continue, and Alec Baldwin can't buy a good script.. Even Clint Eastwood's name and reputation, can't save Sean Penn's Mystic River greatest career performance, at the box-office.. Babs Strident, was just taken to the woodshed with her arrogant actions with a sure Grammy.

Now if we just stay focused long enough and get out the vote in the next 3 elections and we can overcome any filibuster that the left can muster for at least a generation..

[Paul Atreides]

I'm not sure if the thongs actually hit the market, in a big way. I think they might have been on display, or in the catalog, and there was a backlash against it. I'm not sure if it was by parents, or watchdog groups. It wasn't until the thong fiasco brewed up that I had ever even heard of the magazine. I remember the low-rider jeans commercial, for JCPenney; it was parents who voiced their opposition to it, and it was pulled.

[Jonathon Spectre]

Too little, too late. Sorry, if I want a shirt that looks like it's been worn for 9 months I'll go to Goodwill and pay $1 for it.