Apex Global Brands Inc. (APEX), formerly known as Cherokee (CHKE), is in the business of creating, owning, licensing, marketing, and managing brands. Highlights of their brand portfolio include Cherokee, and Hi-Tec. The brick and mortar apocalypse has not been kind to Apex or its closest rivals, Sequential Brands Group (SQBG) and Iconix Brands Group (ICON).
As the DTR (Direct-to-Retail) licensing model dies, these branding companies have a significant challenge on hand to replace quickly evaporating DTR licensing revenue. As an example, Cherokee used to be sold