The WB of the CW's original Internet programming efforts with their CW Seed portal, the WB website was shut down in December 2013. The closure of the WB website ended, after more than eighteen years, the usage of the brand name "The WB". The clothing retailer H&M, not a traditional television advertiser in the United States, sponsored "Sorority Forever" and had some of its clothing worn by characters in the series. Unilever’s Axe brand has sponsored "Children's Hospital". Warner Horizon Television executive vice president Craig Erwich, who oversaw TheWB.com, said in regards to these tie-ins "If an advertiser has an interest in
Republic (retailer) Republic (retailer) Republic was a clothing retailer with 121 stores in the United Kingdom. In February 2013, it entered administration, and was purchased by Sports Direct. Republic was merged into Sports Direct's USC brand. Founded in 1985, as Just Jeans, after 1990, the name changed to Best Jeanswear; Republic was launched in 1998. It was a private limited company (Republic (Retail) Ltd.) and, in 2005, Change Capital invested in the company to finance expansion plans. In May 2011 the company was bought by private equity firm TPG Capital. Republic filed for administration on 13 February 2013, with Ernst & Young