| Hot Topic, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate as a shopping mall-based specialty retailer operating the Hot Topic and Torrid store concepts. Its Hot Topic stores sell music/pop culture-licensed merchandise, such as tee shirts, hats, posters, stickers, patches, postcards, books, novelty accessories, compact discs, and DVDs; and music/pop culture-influenced merchandise, including womens and mens apparel and accessories, such as woven and knit tops, skirts, pants, shorts, jackets, shoes, costume jewelry, body jewelry, sunglasses, cosmetics, leather accessories, and gift products for young men and women. The companys Torrid stores offer fashion apparel and accessories, which include jeans, novelty tee shirts, fashion tops, sweaters, pants, jackets and dresses, hosiery, shoes, intimate apparel, and fashion accessories for plus-size young women. As of February 2, 2008, it operated 690 Hot Topic stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and 151 Torrid stores in 36 states. The company also sells merchandise on its Web sites, hottopic.com and torrid.com. Hot Topic, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in City of Industry, California. |