Urban Outfitters, Inc., a lifestyle merchandising company, operates specialty retail stores under the Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People brands in North America and Europe. Its retail stores offer fashion apparel, footwear, accessories, gifts and decorative items, furniture, books, candles and novelties, pillows and shower curtains, rugs, lighting and antiques, table top items, and bedding products. As of August 7, 2007, the company operated approximately 200 stores in North America and Europe. It also markets its products directly to the consumer through its e-commerce Web sites, as well as through its catalogs. In addition, Urban Outfitters engages in the wholesale distribution of apparel, including young women’s casual wear, tops, bottoms, sweaters, and dresses to approximately 1,500 specialty retailers. The company was founded in 1970 and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.