Sucking Them In

0

Clothing retailer Hot Topic Inc.’s nightmare may finally be over thanks to the release of the vampire movie “Twilight.”

The City of Industry-based Hot Topic has long tried to shed an image as a seller of goth clothing and become a mainstream store for young buyers. Earnings have been dark, but last week it reported that its third quarter net income was up 11 percent versus the same period last year and sales were up 5 percent. The results beat Wall Street expectations amid a dour retail scene.

In a quarterly conference call Nov. 19, Chief Executive Betsy McLaughlin credited the “Twilight” licensing deal for the good performance.

‘Twilight’ sales peaked in the weeks leading up to the film’s release, when stars signed merchandise in Hot Topic stores around the country. Enthusiastic crowds often exceeded capacity, and in San Francisco fans stormed a mall entrance, forcing cancellation of the event. If all four “Twilight” books become movies, Hot Topic could see strong sales every 12 to 18 months, McLaughlin estimated. Plus, she said “Twilight” will help Hot Topic move from the goth subculture into more mainstream territory.

“It’s important to separate vampires and gothics two different things,” she said. “If you had gone to the signings and seen the 8,000 girls who showed up, not a single one would be typified as gothic.”

No posts to display