Burlington Coat Factory
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| Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation | |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Founded | 1928, with retail outlets opening in 1972 |
| Headquarters | Burlington, New Jersey |
| Key people | Monroe Milstein: Founder |
| Industry | retail |
| Products | Coats, outerwear, apparel, shoes, accessories, baby clothes, furniture, home decor items, and gifts. |
| Revenue | US $2.8 billion (2004) |
| Owner | Bain Capital LLC |
| Employees | 28,000 |
| Website | www.coat.com |
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 360 stores in 42 states (as of 2006). In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction.[1]
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[edit] History
The company was founded in 1924 as "Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation", a wholesaler of ladies coats and outerwear. The modern company was formed in 1972 when Monroe Milstein purchased a warehouse in Burlington, New Jersey, and started selling coats and outerwear. The company started gradually adding apparel, including suits, shoes, and accessories, and presently has even branched out to include baby items and linens, all clothing at considerable discount to some of its competition. MJM Designer Shoes and Cohoes Fashions are separate stores in the Burlington Coat Factory family. In 2007, the company announced that three of the seven Cohoes stores will close, and two of the remaining Cohoes stores will be converted to Burlington Coat Factory. The fate of the other two Cohoes stores is unknown.[1]
[edit] Business issues
Under investigation from animal welfare organization Humane Society of the United States, Burlington Coat Factory has been accused of labeling real fur products as "faux fur". The company agreed to pull the false advertisements after an undercover investigation revealed "faux fur" as actually made from the pelts of animals killed in China.[2]
Burlington Coat Factory's logo is often supplemented with the tag "Not Affiliated with Burlington Industries." When Burlington Coat Factory settled a trademark dispute with fabric maker Burlington Industries in 1981, Burlington Coat Factory agreed to say in advertising -- as it does to this day -- that the two companies are not affiliated, even though Burlington Industries ceased operations in 2004.
[edit] Market
Competitors to Burlington Coat Factory include T.J. Maxx, Ross Stores, and Filene's Basement. A key difference between Burlington Coat Factory and other off price stores is that Burlington Coat Factory features more of a traditional department store layout than its competitors.
In 2006, after changing ownership, the company for the first time began offering cash and credit card refunds. Prior to this policy change, the only refunds was in the form of store credit, regardless of whether the customer had a receipt.
[edit] Stores it Owns
Burlington Coat Factory usually has two stores inside it - "Luxury Linens" who sell linen and furniture and "Baby Depot" who sell baby equipment.
