- Burlington Coat Factory
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Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation Type Private Industry Retail Founded 1924
(with retail outlets opening in 1972)Headquarters Burlington Township, New Jersey, U.S. Key people Monroe Milstein: Founder Products Coats, outerwear, apparel, shoes, accessories, baby clothes, furniture, home decor items, and gifts Revenue US $2.8 billion (2004) Owner(s) Bain Capital LLC Employees 28,000 Website burlingtoncoatfactory.com Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.(as of 2010). In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction.[1] The company's corporate headquarters are located in Burlington Township, New Jersey.[2][3][4][5]
Contents
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 and his wife, Henrietta Milstein, purchased a warehouse in Burlington, New Jersey, and started selling coats and outerwear. Monroe had already been a wholesaler of Ladies coats and suits in New York City for many years and his experience in the field of fashion and his deep understanding of the market and what the customers wanted guided his success. The company started gradually adding apparel, including suits, shoes, and accessories, and though the direct efforts of Henrietta branched out to include baby items. Current fashions in women's and men's, and Baby clothing and items including linens, were offered at considerable discount to some of its competition. MJM Designer Shoes and Cohoes Fashions are separate stores in the Burlington Coat Factory family.
In 2001, in the 9/11 attacks after hijacked Flight 175 penetrated through a tower of The World Trade Center, part of the plane's landing gear and fuselage came out the north side of the tower and crashed through the roof and two of the floors of the Burlington Coat Factory at 45–47 Park Place, between West Broadway and Church Street, (600 feet (180 meters)) north of the former World Trade Center. The plane parts destroyed three floor beams, and severely compromised the building's internal structure. Nine years later the building was part of a national controversy, as efforts to build a Muslim center and mosque at the site as the "Cordoba House" sparked a national controversy.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
In 2007, the company closed three of its Cohoes stores, and converted two Cohoes stores to Burlington Coat Factory stores.[15] As a result, all the fashions in New York Lottery drawings provided by Cohoes Fashions Inc. were taken over by Burlington Coat Factory. As of July 2010, the two remaining Cohoes stores continued to operate under that name.[16]
In 2011, the company reported to open 20 new stores this year and New flagship store in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
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.[3] Burlington Coat Factory's coats have also been found to contain dog pelts.[17][18][19]
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 that the two companies are not affiliated. Even though Burlington Industries ceased operations in 2004, it would be five years before the "not affiliated" disclaimer would disappear from TV commercials; it still appears in print media today. As of 2009, the sub heading has been removed from all logos used by the company.
Market
Competitors to Burlington Coat Factory include T.J. Maxx and Ross Stores.
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 were in the form of store credit, regardless of whether the customer had a receipt.
Departments and services
A typical Burlington Coat Factory store includes menswear, sportswear, accessory, youth, and shoe departments. Most stores have two specialty departments. "Luxury Linens" sells linen and furniture items, as well as housewares and home decor items. The "Baby Depot" sells a variety of baby furniture and equipment and offers a baby registry service. Many stores also provide a tailor shop. http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com/content/real-estate/our-store
References
- ^ "FOR RELEASE ON JANUARY 18, 2006". Corporate.burlingtoncoatfactory.com. http://corporate.burlingtoncoatfactory.com/corpinfo/releases/Final_Closing_Press_Release.html. Retrieved May 30, 2009.
- ^ "Directions to New Jersey Corporate Office." Burlington Coat Factory. Retrieved on May 10, 2010.
- ^ "Corporate Addresses." Burlington Coat Factory. Retrieved on May 10, 2010.
- ^ "Burlington township, Burlington County, New Jersey." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 10, 2010.
- ^ "Florence township, Burlington County, New Jersey." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 10, 2010.
- ^ Hernandez, Javier C. (May 25, 2010). "Vote Endorses Muslim Center Near Ground Zero". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/nyregion/26muslim.html. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
- ^ Dunning, Matt (May 6, 2010). "CB1 Committee Hails Plans for a Mosque Two Blocks from WTC Site". The Tribeca Trib. http://www.tribecatrib.com/news/2010/may/603_cb1-committee-hails-plans-for-a-mosque-two-blocks-from-world-trade-center-site.html. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- ^ World Trade Center emergency damage .... January 3, 2008. http://books.google.com/books?id=7fBUAAAAMAAJ&q=%22park+place%22+%22landing+gear%22&dq=%22park+place%22+%22landing+gear%22. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
- ^ World Trade Center emergency damage .... January 3, 2008. http://books.google.com/books?id=7fBUAAAAMAAJ&q=%2245+park+place%22+landing+gear&dq=%2245+park+place%22+landing+gear. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
- ^ World Trade Center building .... http://books.google.com/books?id=vkxSAAAAMAAJ&q=%2245+park+place%22+landing+gear&dq=%2245+park+place%22+landing+gear. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
- ^ Funk, Luke (January 19, 2010). "Ground Zero Mosque Plan Moves Forward; "Shame On You" Shouted at Panel". Fox News. http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpps/news/national/historic-status-denied-for-building-near-ground-zero-20100803-kc_8982933. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
- ^ "Titleer". 74. http://google.com/scholar?q=cache:diw8BqkveQkJ:scholar.google.com/+%2245+park+place%22+landing+gear&hl=en&as_sdt=20000000000. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
- ^ Hernandez, Javier C. (July 13, 2010). "Planned Sign of Tolerance Bringing Division Instead". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/nyregion/14center.html. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
- ^ Structural Engineers Association of New York, Noah Klersfeld, Guy Nordenson and Associates, LZA Technology (2003). World Trade Center emergency damage assessment of buildings: Structural Engineers Association of New York inspections of September and October 2001. 1. Structural Engineers Association of New York. http://books.google.com/books?id=7fBUAAAAMAAJ&q=%22park+place%22+%22landing+gear%22&dq=%22park+place%22+%22landing+gear%22. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Boccio, Rose (January 2, 2001). "Fur-Raising Reality Dog And Cat Pelts Fetch A Profit". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/65899976.html?dids=65899976:65899976&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+02%2C+2001&author=Rose+Boccio+Special+to+the+Tribune&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=FUR-RAISING+REALITY+DOG+AND+CAT+PELTS+FETCH+A+PROFIT&pqatl=google. Retrieved May 30, 2009.
- ^ View all comments that have been posted about this article. (February 5, 2008). "Md. Bill Seeks to End Mislabeling of Fur Coats". Washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/04/AR2008020402979_pf.html. Retrieved May 30, 2009.
- ^ Mooar, Brian (December 18, 1998). "Secret Search Led to Discovery of Dog Fur in U.S. Clothing; Investigation: Humane Society estimates at least 2 million domesticated animals abroad are killed annually to make garments, toys and other products". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. http://articles.latimes.com/1998/dec/18/news/cl-55094. Retrieved May 30, 2009.
External links
Categories:- Companies based in Burlington County, New Jersey
- Off-price department stores of the United States
- Companies established in 1924
- Private equity portfolio companies
- Bain Capital companies
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