Hot Topic Names New VP/GMM
This year will be a year of growth for Hot Topic Inc.’s Torrid division, which recently hired Kate Horton as vice president and general merchandise manager for Torrid, which offers stylish apparel for young women sizes 12 and up.
“Over the last year we have developed what we believe to be a compelling and well-differentiated position for the Torrid brand in a niche market that’s completely underserved by the women’s fashion retail industry,” said Lisa Harper, chairman and chief executive of Hot Topic Inc., which is based in City of Industry, Calif. “We are confident that Kate—with her broad merchandising experience—will drive the strategy forward while we accelerate the growth of the Torrid brand in the coming years.” Horton has worked in retail and manufacturing since 1993. For the past five years, she served as vice president for merchandising of Soma Intimates, a division of Chico’s FAS Inc., based in Fort Myers, Fla. Hot Topic plans to build 45 new Torrid stores by the end of 2012, with a fleet of more than 335 Torrid stores. Torrid currently runs 171 boutiques in malls and strip malls across America. Hot Topic Inc. will announce earnings for its second quarter of 2012 on Aug. 15. —Andrew Asch
