Product Sourcing

J.C. Penney Goes Private (Label) in Fight to Continue Turnaround
February 29, 2016 at 10:17 am

J.C. Penney Co. Inc. has made its private labels a key part of its strategy to capture market share and continue to improve its results. J.C. Penney shares are up 15.4 percent in Friday trading in the wake of its fourth-quarter earnings release on Thursday and management commentary on the higher-margin private label approach.

CDC: Elevated Cancer Risk in Lumber Liquidators Laminate Flooring
February 22, 2016 at 10:13 am

Certain types of laminate flooring made by Lumber Liquidators have a greater risk of causing cancer or other health problems than previously believed, U.S. health regulators said Monday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that exposure to formaldehyde in the flooring was greater than it had calculated earlier this month, meaning people who purchased…

Kmart Buying Up Bankrupt Companies’ Products to Offer Big Discounts
February 19, 2016 at 10:21 am

Struggling discount department store Kmart will begin selling merchandise from bankrupt retailers, liquidations and "other opportunistic situations," the company said Wednesday. "The path to making Kmart great again starts with sourcing truly brag-worthy deals," Kmart President Alasdair James said in a statement. "Just as when we brought back Bluelight Specials last year, we continue to find…

Lawsuit Accuses Jessica Alba’s Honest Co. of Dishonest Labeling
February 17, 2016 at 10:40 am

Honest Co., the online shopping company co-founded by actress and model Jessica Alba, was accused in a lawsuit of fraudulently labeling dozens of home and personal care products as natural, plant-based or chemical-free, causing consumers to overpay. The complaint filed on Friday night by Brad and Manon Buonasera in U.S. District Court in Manhattan targets Honest’s…

Retailers Seek Vendor Discounts After Slow Holiday Season
February 12, 2016 at 10:25 am

Apparel chains, finding it tough to coax more dollars from their customers, are now looking to pick the pockets of their vendors, The Post has learned. After a weak holiday season and a challenging year for sales, a growing number of chains are asking their suppliers to fork over discounts. The reason? Suppliers have super-sized their margins because…

Burberry Sues J.C. Penney for Selling Knockoffs
February 10, 2016 at 12:11 pm

Burberry Group Plc, the British luxury fashion brand, sued J. C. Penney Co on Tuesday, accusing the U.S. retailer of trademark infringement for selling outerwear that featured exact copies of its famous "Burberry check" pattern. In a complaint filed in U.S. district court in Manhattan, Burberry accused J.C. Penney of illegally selling "quilted jackets" with the…

Amazon Expands Logistics Reach With Move Into Ocean Shipping
January 15, 2016 at 10:42 am

Amazon.com Inc's China arm has registered as an ocean freight forwarder, according to the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission, a move that will give it more control over shipping products from Chinese factories to U.S. shoppers. The registration is the latest indication that Amazon plans to expand its logistics reach to cut costs for its retail business…

How Wholesalers Are Fueling the On-Demand Economy
December 15, 2015 at 10:12 am

Consumer expectations have never been higher. They want simple shopping experiences online, on their mobile devices, and in person — whatever is most convenient at any point in time. Most of all, they want to be able to purchase the exact item they’re looking for, and they want it delivered fast. For the last decade,…

Top Fashion CEOs Fear Rising Costs From Climate Change
December 4, 2015 at 9:57 am

The chief executives of seven top clothing companies, including Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), Gap, and Adidas, are calling on governments to agree to a strong climate change deal, saying they fear global warming will drive up their costs. Almost 200 nations are meeting in Paris until Dec. 11, trying to work out a deal to…

Amazon Considers Own Private Label Clothing Line
October 30, 2015 at 11:01 am

Amazon.com, which has been working hard for years to build up Amazon Fashion, anticipates selling its own private-label clothing brands, an executive said at a conference Tuesday. “For Amazon, we know our customers love brands, many of the brands in this room … and that’s where the lion’s share of our business comes from,” Jeff Yurcisin,…