The group's principal activity is to operate women and men's specialty apparel retail stores. the group offers moderately priced, fashionable, coordinated women's sportswear, dresses, coats, lingerie, accessories and shoes for junior and plus sizes. the group's merchandise consists of clothing and accessories appealing primarily to the fashion-conscious junior and plus sized female consumers between the ages of 13 and 18. in addition to 296 stores operating under the name deb the group operates one plus size store under the name 'deb plus' and four outlet stores under the name 'cso'. the outlet stores offer the same merchandise as deb and deb plus at reduced prices and serve as clearance stores for slow-moving inventory. eighty of the deb stores contain plus size departments. the group also operates eight apparel retail stores under the name 'tops `n bottoms'. tops `n bottoms sells moderately priced men and women's appa