Spencer's Marks 60th Anniversary

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Spencer's, one of the oldest and best-known specialty retailing chains, is commemorating 60 years in business offering unique, humorous and innovative products to Generation Y (primarily 18 to 24) consumers. As the business evolves, Spencer's will continue to redesign its 600-plus stores and expand its merchandise assortment to change with trends in pop culture and lifestyle.

The store redesign, which is already underway, with over 20 percent of the chain converted, was first introduced in late 2004, and awarded "Storefront of the Year" by Chain Store Age. "The environment is created with a brick façade with a street feel," said Ken Nisch, chairman at JGA, which helped to create the new exterior design. "It's a night club hideaway. Beat music, dramatic lights and warehouse-like fixtures create the vibe for this unique store experience as a place distinctive from the typical mall environment." Galvanized brushed metal slat wall fixtures enhance the merchandise and provide a multitude of creative ways to showcase Spencer's eclectic products, added Nisch.

According to the Company, the redesign has opened the doors for all areas of Spencer's to be more creative and productive from Operations to Construction and everything in between. The new store concept further builds upon Spencer's strength in providing its guests with a fun, exciting and interactive shopping experience.

Spencer's new store design concepts can be seen at 130 prototype stores around the country in 31 states, including Deptford, NJ, Lehigh Valley, PA, Concord, NH, and Des Moines, IA. "These new stores are our future," said Steven Silverstein, President and CEO of Spencer Gifts. "Our guests love it."

"For 60 years Spencer's has focused on delivering fun and entertainment to our customers, which has helped build the brand to a retail icon. Walk into any one of our stores at anytime and you'll find it hard to resist the smiles on our customer's faces and the infectious laughter that fills our walls. That's what makes Spencer's so special and a mainstay in pop-culture," added Silverstein.

Spencer's 'Greatest Hits'

Spencer's specializes in offering surprising and curiosity-evoking, as well as fun and humorous items, such as lava lamps (first introduced in 1981 with over two million sold to date), whoopee cushions, the Remote Control Fart Machine (celebrating its 10th anniversary on Spencer's shelves with over two million sold to date) and the best-selling poster of all time, Farrah Fawcett (sold in stores throughout the 1970's). In the 1980's, Spencer's introduced ear piercing to mall shoppers, as well as Halloween merchandise. As part of its evolution, Spencer's is consistently introducing it's customers to new items and licenses, including Playboy apparel, accessories and costume jewelry, Scarface lighting and décor, exclusive Rock-N-Roll apparel and hard goods from Led Zeppelin, KISS and the Finnish rock bank HIM, as well as the next generation of the ever popular Remote Control Fart Machine, the Fart-O- Nator.

Originally founded as a mail-order catalog in 1947, Spencer's sold a vast assortment of innovative, novel merchandise that added excitement and laughter to its customers' lifestyles. Soon after its launch Spencer's became a leader in the mail-order industry and decided to expand its business by entering the mall arena. In 1963, Spencer's opened its first retail store in the Cherry Hill Mall in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, growing to 500 stores in 1986. Shortly after launching its retail division, Spencer's was acquired by MCA, Inc. As an MCA company, Spencer's became a member of one of the world's largest entertainment families and experienced tremendous growth by becoming the destination within the mall environment for everything unique and fun. Spencer's was then acquired by ACON Investments and Management in August 2007.

Based on its role as the mall destination for Halloween, in 1999, Spencer's acquired Spirit Halloween Superstores, which has grown to become the nation's leading seasonal Halloween retailer. Spirit carries the widest and deepest selection of Halloween-related products including costumes, wigs, masks, accessories and seasonal décor. The seasonal retailer continues to grow its store base nationwide and expanded its "Spirit of Children" program to support local communities by bringing the ultimate Halloween bash to and raising money for children's hospitals throughout the country. In its second year, the "Spirit of Children" program raised over $230,000 and donated cash and merchandise to 36 children's hospitals across the United States.

About Spencer Gifts

Spencer Gifts LLC is a lifestyle retail company that operates two unique, national brands -- Spencer's and Spirit Halloween Superstores -- throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and online.

Spencer's (www.spencersonline.com) has been focused on delivering humor and enjoyment to people's lives for 60 years. Specializing in innovative, humorous and unique merchandise, Spencer's is the mall destination for entertainment, excitement and irreverent fun for its core Generation Y guest. Spencer's operates over 600 stores throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and online.

Spirit Halloween Superstores (www.spirithalloween.com) is rapidly growing as the national destination for everything you can imagine for Halloween. Specializing in unique, entertaining and exciting merchandise for Halloween enthusiasts, Spirit has been offering one-stop shopping for all your Halloween needs for over 20 years. Spirit Halloween Superstores operates over 500 locations in strip centers and malls across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and online.