Don Fisher, Co-Founder Of Gap, Dies at 81By Elizabeth Holmes & Stephen Miller
September 28, 2009
Donald Fisher, who set out to create a new kind of clothing store to fill "The Gap" he saw in retailing, died of cancer Sunday at age 81.
Mr. Fisher wasn't known as a merchant or fashion designer. Rather, he propelled his business with an intense competitive drive and a passion for real estate. Under his leadership, the San Francisco-based retailer quickly spread to malls and urban centers across the U.S. He recruited talent to make up for his lack of apparel knowledge.
Gap became known as an iconic brand that made it the most profitable clothier in the U.S. during the 1990s. The company expanded both upmarket and down by acquiring Banana Republic in 1983 and launching Old Navy a decade later.
Today, Gap Inc. is one of the largest apparel retailers in the world, with 3,145 stores and $14.5 billion in sales last year.
Mr. Fisher was deeply involved in his company's business for 40 years, serving as chief executive from 1969 to 1995. He remained chairman until 2004. At board meetings in the past year, Mr. Fisher was always the most attentive, said Gap Chief Executive Glenn Murphy. "More than anybody he was listening, writing stuff down, taking it all in," Mr. Murphy said.
The original Gap sold records along with every size and cut of Levis. Later, the chain would rise on the back of a charismatic outsider, Mickey Drexler, whom Mr. Fisher recruited from Ann Taylor in 1983. Mr. Drexler, now chief executive of J. Crew Group Inc., persuaded Mr. Fisher to reinvent the brand, pushing for higher-quality materials and more classic styles. The new merchandise hit shelves in 1985 and immediately grabbed shoppers.WSJ's Stacey Delo explores the 1000 piece private collection of Gap Founders Doris and Don Fisher, which is considered to be one of the biggest and best collections of contemporary and modern art anywhere in the world. (Originally published April 2008).
Despite the success together, the pair disagreed frequently. Mr. Fisher's aggressive push for store growth, as well as international expansion, was a particular point of contention.
"It was like any other committed partnership -- the partners fight for what they think is right," Mr. Drexler said in an interview Sunday, adding that the differing approaches were "critical" to Gap's success. "Of course, if you're the minority shareholder, it goes without saying that you have to fight even harder." Mr. Drexler abruptly left the company in 2002, after 24 consecutive months of sales declines.
Gap has maintained profitability but sales remain lackluster. Total sales have fallen 11% in the last five years to $14.5 billion last year from $16.3 billion in 2004.
Mr. Fisher and his wife of 56 years, Doris, used their wealth to build an extensive art collection and support education. The pair has donated more than $100 million to the Knowledge is Power Program charter schools and Teach for America.
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The Gap has really surprised me this year. I have purchased some wonderful high quality tee shirts that have held up very well to mutiple washings and wearings. Their colour selection has been fun to choose from, in addition to the great sales!
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ReplyDeleteI was a huge GAP fan back in my high school/college days. I've returned to shopping there this past year after maybe a five-year hiatus. My last two pairs of jeans have been from the GAP. The fit is awesome, and you can't beat the price. When I look back on how I've dropped $200 per pair of jeans in the earlier part of the decade, I am mortified. What a waste of money! So, I am definitely supporting the GAP cause these days. They always carry short lengths, as well, which my 5-foot, 2-inch self truly appreciates.
ReplyDeleteI've been a big fan of BR forevas and I've also started buying more from Old Navy. A $5 T shirt vs. a 50 Splendid or Michael Stars T shirt, well - you do the math.
I hope the company can turn it around and improve sales. I do find that some seasons are amazing and some really fall flat, especially at Banana Republic.
I'm a Gap and BR shopper from time to time, not so much ON. I do appreciate that Gap has "extended missy" sizing, albeit mostly online. On the other hand, I'm still mad that GPS got rid of Forth & Towne. I was in the target market (40s) and the fit worked. I've got probably 20 to 30 pieces from that brand.
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