Retailers Outline Growth Plans

NEW YORK CITY-Though retailers are facing big challenges like rising gas prices and unfavorable weather, many of them are still expanding. Some of those companies presented their plans to investors yesterday at Goldman Sachs’ Annual Global Retailing Conference at the Hilton New York.

In many ways Philadelphia-based Urban Outfitters Inc. is just getting started. In its three chains the company has the potential to go from just over 150 stores to more than 550 units, said Richard Hayne, the retailer’s CEO. “We have plenty of room for additional new store growth.”

Its namesake chain, which targets men and women between the ages of 18 and 30, currently operates 76 stores and 16 of them are in malls. The chain has the potential for 200-plus units with about half of them in malls, Hayne says.