Was C. Wonder worth it, and how did it compare to Tory Burch?+
C. Wonder set out to sell a similar style of cheerful, preppy merchandise to Tory Burch but at noticeably lower prices, which was the whole pitch. That closeness is exactly what made it polarising: the resemblance between the two brands led to legal disputes between founder J. Christopher Burch and his ex-wife. If you liked the colourful, accessible look without the designer price tag, it delivered on that promise during its short run.
Why did people find C. Wonder so memorable as a store?+
The shopping experience was the point. The first Manhattan flagship opened in 2011 with fitting rooms that had public touch screens for adjusting the lighting and music, plus store-wide mobile checkout so associates could ring you up anywhere using iPod touches. Architectural Digest called it "the next generation of shopping," and the breadth of products prompted The New Yorker to dub it "the World's Fair of retail."
What did C. Wonder actually sell?+
It was a lifestyle brand rather than just fashion. C. Wonder carried women's clothing and accessories alongside home decor, pillows, tableware, art books, picnic baskets, and even electronics. That sprawling, something-for-everyone assortment is what earned it the "World's Fair of retail" label.
Who founded C. Wonder and when?+
C. Wonder was founded by venture capitalist J. Christopher (Chris) Burch, the ex-husband of Tory Burch, around 2010. The first signs went up on a Spring Street storefront in New York City in July 2011, and the flagship officially opened that October.
Is C. Wonder still in business?+
Not as the original company. C. Wonder filed for bankruptcy and closed all its stores in January 2015. However, Xcel Brands acquired the brand's trademarks and assets and continues to sell products under the C. Wonder name online and through US retailers such as Walmart and Nordstrom.
Where can I buy C. Wonder products today?+
Since the original stores closed, the brand lives on through Xcel Brands. You can find C. Wonder products sold online and at traditional US retail locations including Walmart and Nordstrom. The original branded flagships in New York and beyond no longer operate.
How quickly did C. Wonder expand before it closed?+
Very quickly, which was part of the story. After opening in 2011, it added a second New York flagship in the Time Warner Center in 2012, opened its first California store at Newport Beach's Fashion Island that August, and launched eight stores in 2012 alone. By 2013 it operated roughly 30 stores in the US before its 2015 collapse.
Did C. Wonder ever expand internationally?+
It tried. In November 2013 the brand signed a licensing agreement with Al Tayer to open stores in the Middle East, such as the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, planned for early 2014. Executives spoke of franchising further into the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia, though the company's 2015 bankruptcy cut those ambitions short.
What was the lawsuit between C. Wonder and Tory Burch about?+
It centred on the similarities between the two brands. In October 2012 Chris Burch sued Tory Burch, accusing the company of blocking his attempts to sell part of his shares and arguing that C. Wonder's much lower price point kept him from competing. Notably he was still Chairman of the Board at Tory Burch at the time. The dispute and all pending claims were settled on December 31, 2012.
Who ran C. Wonder, and what was Chris Burch's background?+
Andrea Hyde served as president until March 2014, following Amy Shecter in that role. Founder Chris Burch had a long fashion track record: he launched Eagle Eye in 1976, co-founded the Tory Burch fashion house, and backed ventures like Jawbone and Powermat Technologies.
Did C. Wonder win any industry recognition?+
Yes. In 2012 the brand received the Accessories Council Excellence Award for Specialty Retailer of the Year, a notable nod given how new the company was at the time.
