Patrick Stewart is CEO of Apricot Lane Boutiques, which has 75 locations throughout the U.S. and growing. He has an extensive career in retailing, and came to Apricot Lane in 2018 after a three-year stint as chief marketing officer for Sears. Previously, he was vice president of marketing of Crazy Shirt and of The Walking Company. Stewart’s challenge now is to take entrepreneurs who might have little or no retail or fashion experience — some doctors and dentists, for example — and guide them through the success of opening a 1,000 to 2,000 square feet clothing store. The CEO of Apricot Lane Boutiques says that, despite a recent spate of national store clothing retailers shuttering many of their locations, their national brand of apparel and merchandise stores are doing well.“ Our comp-store sales were up 10% last month, and our sales were up, too, last year,” says Stewart, whose company has 75 locations across the U.S. and looking to add as many as 25 more next year. “ Our chain is growing compared to last year, and our profitability is up.”

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