Spinoffs, new merchandise categories and other strategies Redcats USA is using to capture new customers.

By Paul Miller

But companywide sales have slipped during the past three years, from $1.43 billion in 2002 to $1.4 billion in 2003 to $1.36 billion last year, largely due to a decline in sales at Chadwick’s of Boston and a wind-down of the company’s longstanding relationship with a leading broadline retailer.

While the spinoffs and makeovers of some of the apparel books will help improve sales, the greatest sales growth likely is to come through acquisitions, Faintreny says. And when reports surfaced in March that apparel mailers Lands’ End and J. Crew may be up for sale and that Redcats USA could be interested in one or both of them, Faintreny acknowledged Redcats USA’s interest.