ABOUT THIS COMPANY

ABOUT THIS COMPANY

Zales began as a small jewelry store in Wichita Falls, Texas, in the roaring 1920s. As the decades passed, the company expanded into numerous stores across the country and even up into Canada. Although Zales saw sales increase dramatically throughout the middle decades, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1992. After the economic hardship, Zales underwent a five year transformation, reemerging on the market as the success that is today. In 1998, Zales created a "breakaway year", earning more than $1.3 billion in sales and establishing itself on the market as a leading jeweler.

Picking up pieces

From 1999 to 2000, Zales continued with its expansion and resurgence as it picked up two more jewelry companies, Peoples Jewellers of Canada and fellow mallrat, Piercing Pagoda, Inc. Perhaps the bankruptcy was the best thing that could have happened to this small Texas jeweler, for its economic burst from 1994-2000 put it on the map for success stories.

Zale currently operates more than 2,300 retail stores across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also sells its merchandise online at www.zales.com, and runs an outlet store. The Zales Corporation business units include the Jewelers (found in most malls across America), Gordon's Jewelers, Baily Banks & Biddle Fine Jewelers, Peoples Jewellers, Mappins Jewellers and Piecring Pagoda.