Hot Topic is an American retail chain specializing in music and pop culture-related clothing and accessories, as well as licensed music. The majority of the stores are located in regional shopping malls.The first Hot Topic store was opened in 1988 by Orv Madden, who retired as CEO in 2000 and was replaced by Betsy McLaughlin, who helmed the company until 2011. Lisa Harper assumed the position of CEO in March 2011. The company went public and began trading on NASDAQ in 1996. In 2006, Hot Topic was placed 53rd on Fortune 500's Top Companies to Work For list.In 2013, Hot Topic announced its sale to private equity firm Sycamore Partners for $600 million.

 

Product assortment and sales 

Hot Topic at Universal CityWalk in Hollywood, California.

Approximately 30% of Hot Topic's revenue comes from sales of licensed band t-shirts. Hot Topic often negotiates exclusive licensing arrangements with musical artists, movie studios, and graphic artists. Fashion apparel for men and women is featured prominently in stores, with products from Lip Service, Morbid Threads, Rude, Social Collision, Royal Bones, and also Tripp Star Wars, Disney, Sanrio, Psychopathic Records, WWE, Social Collision, Heartcore Clothing, Iron Fist, Nintendo, Nickelodeon, web celebrities, Invader Zim, Hopeless Records, Harry Potter, Hip-Hop, and more recently, Doctor Who, Adventure Time, Regular Show, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Sons Of Anarchy, Resident Evil, and Domo merchandise. Some children's clothing is also available on the Hot Topic website.

 

Torrid division

Main article: Torrid

In 2001, Hot Topic launched Torrid, a concept store that sells clothing for plus-size women.Torrid stores currently carry brands such as Baby Phat, House of Dereon, Dickies, Z. Cavaricci and Apple Bottoms.

 

Websites

Main article: ShockHound

In 2008, Hot Topic launched ShockHound, an online retailer and social networking music site. The site features music downloads, interviews and exclusive content. Hot Topic's original website, hottopic.com, was launched in 1997, and ships products to approximately 100 countries.

 

In March 2011, Hot Topic made a public statement citing the shutdown of ShockHound. The site is no longer live, all merchandise was moved to HotTopic.com and the company ceased sales of MP3s.