Kate Horton Joins Hot Topic, Inc. as VP, General Merchandise Manager, Torrid Division

Veteran Merchant to Drive Strategy for Rapidly-Growing Plus-Size Fashion Division

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 19, 2012-- Hot Topic, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Select Market: HOTT) announced today that Kate Horton has joined the company as Vice President, General Merchandise Manager for its Torrid division, which retails on-trend fashion apparel, lingerie and accessories for young, voluptuous women who wear sizes 12 and up.

Reporting to Hot Topic, Inc. Chairman and CEO Lisa Harper, Ms. Horton will drive the merchandising strategy for Torrid, leading a team of merchants to develop an assortment of fashion apparel that is reflective of the brand's position, is enticing to consumers, and drives sales and profit margins.

"Over the last year we have developed what we believe to be a compelling and well-differentiated position for the Torrid brand, in a niche market that's completely underserved by the women's fashion retail industry," said Harper. "We are confident that Kate - with her broad merchandising experience - will drive the strategy forward while we accelerate the growth of the Torrid brand in the coming years."

Ms. Horton has nearly two decades of experience in retail merchandising, most recently as Vice President, Merchandising and Sourcing for Soma Intimates' Foundations Division. She has held a variety of merchandising roles at companies including Robinsons-May, Fashion Forms, Felina Lingerie and the Marmaxx Group.

"Achieving the proper fit - particularly in key categories like bras - is critical to our business," continued Harper. "Kate's experience in this area will be valuable as we continue to expand the lingerie assortment at Torrid.

About Torrid

Torrid retails on-trend fashion apparel, lingerie and accessories inspired by and designed to fit the young, voluptuous woman who wears size 12 and up. Torrid fashion collections stimulate self-confidence and encourage a woman to feel sultry and downright irresistible. Torrid has 171 stores in malls and strip centers across the country, and an online store at http://www.torrid.com. You can find Torrid on Facebook (facebook.com/Torrid) Twitter (twitter.com/torridfashion), Pinterest (pinterest.com/torridfashion/) and YouTube (youtube.com/TorridFashion).

About Hot Topic, Inc.

Hot Topic, Inc. is a mall and web based specialty retailer operating the Hot Topic and Torrid concepts. Hot Topic offers music/pop culture-licensed and music/pop culture-influenced apparel, accessories, music and gift items for young men and women. Torrid offers apparel, lingerie, shoes and accessories designed for various lifestyles for young plus-size women. As of July 18, 2012, the company operated 620 Hot Topic stores in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, 171 Torrid stores, and Internet stores hottopic.com and torrid.com.

Original source: http://investorrelations.hottopic.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=120007&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1716706&highlight=