Barneys New York is no purple dinosaur, even if it did have a brush with extinction. The tony retailer features designer apparel for men, women, and children; shoes; accessories; and home furnishings. It operates nine full-price stores (including flagship stores in New York City, Beverly Hills, and Chicago) and 12 outlets. Barney Pressman founded the company in 1923 with money raised from pawning his wife's engagement ring; the Pressman family now owns less than 2% of the company known for introducing Armani and Prada. Bay Harbour Management and Whippoorwill Associates each own about 38% of Barneys; however, Jones Apparel Group has offered to buy the company.