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Sean John, a contemporary men's sportswear line, opened a factory store Friday, June 23rd at
Prime Outlets center in Michigan.
The Sean John factory outlet store is the first of its' kind according to Sean John's public
relations people.
But don't drag your feet on checking it out. The store, by design, may be around for only a few
months.
It is one of five prototype stores the New York-based company is opening around the country,
said Eric Ianuzi, manager of retail development. All locations are three- to four-month test
markets. If successful, the company has an option to negotiate a longer lease, Ianuzi said.
The Sean John clothing line, developed by music mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, was introduced in
1999 and is sold in better specialty and department stores, including Marshall Field's. The
company opened its first standalone retail store in New York City last year.
The 4,500-square-foot Birch Run outlet store will be in the Birch section near a Banana
Republic factory store that opened last week, said Michelle Cherveny, the center's marketing
manager. Sean John's store will sell men's clothing, including Sean Jean denim, the
runway Collections line, and Bad Boy athletics clothing.
According to Eric Ianuzi, most of the clothing is from the spring line.
A clean, simple store design will reflect Sean John's original black, white and silver color
motif.
Ianuzi told URB1 the store will have seven employees and still is accepting applications.
It is the second of the prototype stores to open.
He said the first outlet store opened last week at an outlet mall in Secaucus, N.J. Others
are planned at the Prime Outlets mall in San Marcos, Texas; Franklin Mills outlet center in
Philadelphia; and a Tanger Factory Outlet Center in Commerce, Ga.
"The idea was to pick a number of key centers around the country and see how that market
is," said Ianuzi to URB1.COM.
The approach avoids getting stuck in a long-term lease at underperforming sites, according to
Sean John's expansion plan developers.
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