The Cato Corp. engages in the operation of apparel and accessories specialty stores. The company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and currently employs 7,600 full-time employees. The firm operates through two segments: the operation of a fashion specialty stores segment (Retail Segment) and a credit card segment (Credit Segment). The Company’s merchandise lines include dressy, career, and casual sportswear, dresses, coats, shoes, lingerie, costume jewelry, handbags, men’s wear and lines for kids and infants. The apparel specialty stores operate under the names Cato, Cato Fashions, Cato Plus, It’s Fashion, It’s Fashion Metro and Versona, including e-commerce Websites. The firm offers its own credit cards to its customers and all credit authorizations, payment processing and collection efforts are performed by a separate subsidiary of the Company. The company operates approximately 1,311 fashion specialty stores in over 32 states, principally in the southeastern United States. The firm offers its own credit card and layaway plan.