What YM INC. (SALES) does

YM Inc. (Sales) is a privately held Canadian fashion retail holding company founded in 1975 by Chairman Michael Gold with the opening of the original Stitches store in downtown Toronto. The company operates a portfolio of 13+ distinct fashion retail brands across 800+ physical stores throughout North America, including wholly-owned concepts (Urban Planet, Stitches, Sirens, Urban Kids, Urban Behavior, Amnesia), wholly-owned subsidiaries (Suzy's Inc., Thriftys Inc., West 49 Inc.), a joint venture (Bluenotes with Cosa Nova Fashions Inc.), and licensed/operated US concepts (Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Rue21, Aeropostale). Brands are segmented by demographic and lifestyle niche, collectively covering the young fashion consumer from age 4 to 24, spanning pre-teen (Urban Kids), teen (Stitches), young adult urban (Urban Planet, Sirens), action sports (West 49), Quebec regional (Amnesia), and women's specialty (Suzy Shier, Charlotte Russe).

The company's go-to-market is a hybrid direct-to-consumer model combining mall-based physical retail with brand-specific e-commerce storefronts (urban-planet.com, west49.com, amnesiashop.com, rue21.com, blnts.com), supported by bilingual (English/French) operations across Canada. Revenue is generated through one-time sales of apparel, footwear, accessories, and lifestyle merchandise at value/affordable price points. Distribution is concentrated in Canadian shopping malls, with the United States presence stemming primarily from the West 49 acquisition and licensed US brand operations. No APIs, software products, or technology platforms are sold externally.

YM Inc. pursues growth through a combination of organic new-store openings and selective acquisitions of distressed or divesting retail concepts, exemplified by the March 2018 acquisition of West 49 from Billabong and ongoing multi-province store expansion through 2018-2019. The company maintains a private, founder-controlled ownership structure under Michael Gold's chairmanship, with no venture capital, private equity, or public market involvement disclosed. Long-tenured corporate social responsibility programs (Kids Help Phone sponsorship since 1995, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre partnerships since 2006/2011, Tom Martin Learning Fund since 2007) form part of the company's employer branding and community engagement strategy, though no AI, machine learning, or proprietary technology capabilities are disclosed across the corporate footprint.

Name

YM INC. (SALES)

Legal name

YM Inc. (Sales)

Website

https://ym-inc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

YM Inc. (Sales) is a privately held Canadian fashion retail holding company operating 800+ stores across North America through 13+ brands (Urban Planet, Stitches, West 49, Bluenotes, Suzy Shier, Amnesia, and others), serving young consumers aged 4-24 with affordable apparel and accessories via mall-based retail and brand e-commerce sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Fashion Retail

NAICS

Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (45811), Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers (458)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Women's Clothing Stores (5621)

akta.pro primary industry

Fast Fashion & Trend-led Apparel Retail (CRAAABAH)

Keywords

• Fast fashion retail
• Youth apparel brands
• Action sports apparel
• Mall-based retail
• Teen fashion stores

Headquarters

HQ city

North York

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fashion Retail Sales: YM Inc. generates revenue through retail sales of apparel, footwear, accessories, and lifestyle products across its portfolio of 14+ fashion brands. Revenue comes from physical store locations and e-commerce platforms. The company sells fast fashion merchandise targeting young consumers aged 14-24, with brands covering urban, streetwear, and action sports styles.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

YM Inc. operates a portfolio of 13+ fashion retail brands (Urban Planet, Stitches, Sirens, Forever 21, Bluenotes, Thriftys, Suzy Shier, Charlotte Russe, Aeropostale, Urban Kids, West 49, Amnesia, Rue21) selling apparel, footwear, accessories, and lifestyle products targeted at young consumers aged 4-24. Distribution is via 800+ physical mall-based stores across North America complemented by brand-specific e-commerce websites, with bilingual English/French operations serving the Canadian market.

Product overview

YM Inc. (Sales) is a Canadian fashion retail holding company operating multiple retail brands across North America with over 800 stores. The company operates a portfolio of 13 distinct fashion brands targeting different market segments: Urban Planet, Sirens, Forever 21, Bluenotes, Thriftys, Suzy Shier, Charlotte Russe, Aeropostale, Urban Kids, Stitches, WEST49, Amnesia, and Rue21. The brands collectively serve the young fashion market from pre-teens (Urban Kids, Stitches) to young adults (Urban Planet, Sirens, Rue21), with specialty concepts including action sports (WEST49), Quebec fashion (Amnesia), and thrift-themed (Thriftys). The company operates primarily through physical retail stores with e-commerce presence for brands like Urban Planet, West49, Amnesia, and Rue21.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Urban Behavior: Urban fashion retail brand targeting young men and women seeking trendy styles
• Siblings

Products and services

• Urban Planet Fast-growing Canadian fashion retailer with over 100 stores nationwide and an online shop, targeting young men and women aged 16-24 with the latest fashion trends, footwear, and accessories at everyday low prices.
• Stitches Established fashion retailer with over 50 stores across Canada, serving teens aged 14-18 with current fashion trends at affordable prices, from outerwear to accessories.
• Sirens Fashion retail brand targeting young women, part of YM Inc.'s portfolio of young fashion retailers.
• Forever 21 Fashion retail brand operating under YM Inc., targeting young fashion consumers.
• Bluenotes Jointly owned brand between Cosa Nova Fashions Inc. and partners, offering young fashion apparel. Major sponsor of Kids Help Phone since 1995, having raised over $2 million.
• Thriftys Thrift-themed fashion retail brand operated by Thriftys Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of YM Inc.
• Suzy Shier Fashion brand targeting women, operated by Suzy's Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of YM Inc.), actively contributing to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre since 2011 with over $125,000 donated over five years.
• Charlotte Russe Fashion retail brand targeting young women, part of YM Inc.'s portfolio.
• Aeropostale International fashion brand carried at Bluenotes locations. Offers casual apparel for young men and women.
• Urban Kids Pre-teen fashion retailer catering to boys and girls aged 4-16, offering trendy apparel, accessories, and lifestyle products.
• West 49 Leading Canadian action sports retailer offering clothing, footwear, accessories, and equipment for men, women, and boys. Carries brands like Vans, DC, Converse, Billabong, Quiksilver.
• Amnesia Quebec-based fashion retailer offering a unique shopping environment for fashion-forward customers seeking sports and active lifestyle apparel, footwear, and unisex accessories from emerging brands.
• Rue21 Fashion retail brand under YM Inc., operating stores across North America targeting young fashion consumers.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Billabong (West 49 Acquisition)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Billabong sold its Canadian retail chain West 49 to YM Inc. in March 2018. This acquisition expanded YM Inc.'s portfolio of brands and strengthened its position in the action sports retail segment in Canada.
• Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (Weekend To End Cancer)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Suzy Shier has been an active contributor to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre since 2011. The company donated $125,000 over five years and organized Team SUZY walkers for the OneWalk to Conquer Cancer, raising over $100,000 in the last four years.
• Tom Martin Learning FundminorOthers · 1 January 2007The Tom Martin Learning Fund scholarship was established in 2007 in memory of the late CFO of YM Inc. The company awards six $5,000 scholarships annually to employees and their dependents pursuing post-secondary education in retail-related fields.
• Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (Ride To Conquer Cancer)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Since 2006, Team YM participates in the annual Ride To Conquer Cancer benefiting the Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute at Princess Margaret Hospital. The company donates $50,000 annually to the cause. Team members cycle 200 kilometers from Toronto to Niagara Falls.
• Make-A-Wish FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2002West 49 partners with the Make-A-Wish Foundation by offering holiday gift boxes for purchase at locations across Canada. 100% of proceeds go directly to the foundation to help make holiday wishes come true.
• Kids Help PhonecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1995Bluenotes has been a proud major sponsor of Kids Help Phone since 1995, raising more than $2 million throughout its years of involvement. The partnership includes an annual holiday gift box campaign where customized boxes are sold in stores for $2 with all proceeds going to the charity.
• Canadian Children's HospitalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYM Inc. donates annually through holiday gift box sales to children's hospitals across Canada including BC Children's Hospital, Alberta Children's Hospital, Stollery Children's Hospital, Saskatchewan Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Manitoba, Toronto Sick Kids Hospital, Montreal Children's Hospital, IWK Health Centre, Janeway Children's Health and Rehabilitation Centre, and CHEO.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Reitmans (Canada) Limited: Canadian specialty apparel retailer operating Women’s clothing banners (Reitmans, Penningtons, Addition Elle, RW&CO) targeting similar affordable women’s fashion segments as YM Inc.’s Suzy Shier, Sirens, and Charlotte Russe, with mall-based distribution and bilingual operations.
• Urban Outfitters (URBN): Anthropologie/Urban Outfitters/Free People parent operating lifestyle and fashion retail banners targeting young adults in mall and high-street locations — comparable to Urban Planet and Sirens in customer demographic and trend-led merchandising approach.
• Ardene: Canadian fast-fashion and accessories retailer with hundreds of mall-based stores serving teen and young women — directly comparable to Stitches, Urban Planet, and Sirens on demographic, price point, and channel.
• Groupe Dynamite (Garage / Dynamite): Quebec-headquartered specialty apparel retailer operating Garage and Dynamite banners targeting teen and young women with trend-led, affordable fashion in Canadian malls — a closest direct comparable to Urban Planet, Sirens, and Amnesia.
• American Eagle Outfitters: US-listed specialty apparel retailer (American Eagle, Aerie) targeting 15-25 demographic with mall-based stores and fast-fashion cadence — comparable business model and customer base to Urban Planet and Forever 21 within YM Inc.’s portfolio.
• Abercrombie & Fitch: Specialty apparel retailer (A&F, Hollister) targeting teens and young adults with mall-based stores and trend-led apparel — direct comparable on demographic, channel, and brand portfolio model to YM Inc.’s teen/young-adult banners.

Broad incumbents

• H & M Hennes & Mauritz: Global fast-fashion incumbent operating thousands of stores worldwide including extensive Canadian mall presence — competes with YM Inc.’s Urban Planet, Forever 21, and Charlotte Russe on price, trend cadence, and youth demographic, but as a much larger global operator.
• Industria de Diseño Textil (Inditex / Zara): Global fast-fashion leader (Zara, Bershka, Pull&Bear) competing with YM Inc.’s fast-fashion brands on trend-led apparel for young consumers — a broader incumbent that overlaps with YM’s core fast-fashion positioning but at much larger scale globally.
• Gap Inc. Multi-banner apparel retailer (Gap, Old Navy, Athleta, Banana Republic) operating mall and online channels with comparable demographic reach to YM Inc.’s portfolio, though at much greater scale and broader lifestyle positioning.

Emerging players

• Forever 21 (Authentic Brands Group): Fast-fashion brand whose Canadian operations were licensed to and operated by YM Inc. — Authentic Brands now controls the IP and licenses it through other retailers, making it both a related brand and a reintroduced competitive entrant to YM’s portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/amnesiashop
• Instagraminstagram.com/ru e21
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ym-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about YM INC. (SALES)