Aéropostale, Inc., based in New York City, operates about 880 mostly mall-based stores for teenagers in 49 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and Canada. “Aéropostale stocks the usual teen outerwear (jeans, T-shirts, accessories), mostly under the Aéropostale and Aéro names… The Aéropostale name originated from a 1920s airmail firm, Compagnie Generale Aéropostale. The brand was created by R.H. Macy & Co. as a private label in the 1980s and later made into a specialty store concept. Macy’s sold Aéropostale to its management and Bear Stearns Merchant Banking in 1998.”[1]

Criticism

Worker Rights

• Chief Executive Officer Julian R. Geiger had total pay of $7,203,307 in 2008 according to the AFL-CIO Executive PayWatch Database. In 2007 he made $13,618,277.[2]

Praise

Business Ethics

• PETA Praises Aeropostale for Supporting Campaign to End Two Major Abuses of Australian Sheep, April 17, 2006. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) writes: after reviewing graphic video footage showing the cruel treatment of lambs who have skin and flesh on their rumps cut off with gardening shears and Australian sheep who suffer and die onboard export ships bound for the Middle East, mall-based youth-clothing icon Aeropostale has signed a statement pledging not to knowingly buy Australian merino wool until lamb mutilations and live-sheep exports are stopped.[3][4]

Brands and Subsidiaries

• Aero; Jimmy’Z Surf Co., Inc.[5]