Burlington Coat Factory: Year-Round Coats?

Burlington, formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, is an American national off-price department store retailer. The company sells a wide range of products, including clothing, accessories, and shoes, and is known for offering name-brand items at discounted prices. While it is known for selling coats, it is unclear if Burlington sells coats year-round. The company has a large number of stores across the United States, with a presence in almost every state.

Burlington Coat Factory sells coats and jackets, as well as clothing, accessories, baby items, shoes, homeware, and pet supplies

Burlington Coat Factory, now known simply as Burlington, is a retailer that sells a wide range of products, including coats and jackets, clothing, accessories, baby items, shoes, homeware, and even pet supplies. The company has expanded its product range over the years, recognising the need to offer more than just coats to attract customers year-round.

For those looking for outerwear, Burlington offers a large assortment of coats and jackets for men, women, and children. You can find various styles, from puffer coats and trench coats to pea coats and leather jackets, often at discounted prices compared to other department stores.

In addition to outerwear, Burlington provides a diverse selection of clothing for the whole family. You can find everything from dresses, sets, and handbags for women to men's clothing and junior styles. They also offer maternity clothing, with a range of options for expectant mothers.

Beyond clothing, Burlington has a variety of other products to meet your needs. For babies and children, they offer strollers, furniture, bedding, and other essential items. You can also find accessories like handbags, shoes, and jewellery to complete your look.

If you're looking to spruce up your home, Burlington has a selection of linens, home goods, and decor. They also cater to your furry friends with pet supplies.

With over 600 stores across the United States and Puerto Rico, Burlington is conveniently located for many shoppers. The company prides itself on offering name-brand products at affordable prices, often selling items for about one-third of the price found in high-end department stores.

Whether you're shopping for a new coat, updating your wardrobe, or looking for home essentials, Burlington Coat Factory has something for everyone.

The company has over 600 stores across the US and Puerto Rico

Burlington Coat Factory, now known simply as Burlington, has over 600 stores across the US and Puerto Rico. The company was started in 1972 by the Milstein family, who initially sold coats and jackets wholesale. They soon expanded their product range to include clothing, accessories, linens, gift items, baby items, and shoes, and began selling directly to consumers. This shift in focus allowed them to do good business year-round, rather than being dependent on seasonal coat sales.

The company's headquarters are located in Burlington Township, New Jersey, and they have stores in 40 states across the US. In 2013, they operated 503 stores, and as of 2023, they have over 600 stores. They are the third-largest off-price retailer after TJX Companies and Ross Stores.

The company was publicly traded until 2006, when it was purchased by Bain Capital Partners and taken private. It returned to the stock market in 2013, and its stock rose by over 40% on the first day of trading.

Burlington has a strong focus on providing value for money to its customers. They sell name-brand items at significantly lower prices than high-end department stores, typically about one-third of the price. They also operate MJM Designers Shoes, Cohoes Fashions, and the Super Baby Depot.

In addition to their focus on value, Burlington is also known for their charitable partnerships. They have partnered with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night campaign since 2002 and have raised over $19 million as of 2013. They also launched the Warm Coats and Warm Hearts Drive to collect coat donations for those in need.

Burlington Coat Factory was started by the Milstein family in 1972

Burlington, formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, was started by the Milstein family in 1972. The company was founded when Henrietta Milstein convinced her husband, Monroe, to purchase a former factory outlet in Burlington, New Jersey, for $675,050. Using money she had saved from her job as a librarian, Henrietta provided most of the $75,000 down payment.

Initially, the Milsteins sold coats and jackets in wholesale, but they soon began adding other clothing items and accessories to reduce their dependence on the seasonal coat business. Over time, they expanded their product range to include linens, gift items, baby products, and shoes. The company's initial strategy was to offer a broad range of first-quality, branded outerwear for families at prices significantly below those of similar merchandise in department stores.

In the following years, Burlington Coat Factory expanded rapidly. By 1982, the company exceeded $130 million in annual sales, and by 1983, annual sales had climbed to nearly $300 million. The company went public in 1983, changing its name to Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation, and doubled its store count to 68 locations by 1985.

Over the next few decades, Burlington continued to thrive and expand across the United States. The company operated 362 stores in 42 states by 2005, generating $3.2 billion in annual sales. In 2006, the company was purchased by Bain Capital Partners for $2.06 billion, marking a significant milestone in its history.

Today, Burlington has rebranded itself as Burlington Stores to communicate that it offers more than just coats. The company has over 1,000 stores in 40 states and Puerto Rico and is the third-largest off-price retailer in the United States.

The company was involved in a scandal where coats labelled as faux fur were found to be made from real fur, including dog fur

Burlington Coat Factory, the nation's largest coat retailer, was involved in a scandal in 1998 when it recalled hundreds of men's parkas after discovering they were trimmed with dog fur. The company, which has stores in 42 states, pulled the coats from its shelves and offered refunds or store credit to customers who had purchased them.

The scandal began when the Humane Society of the United States objected to the sale of the coats, stating that the coat controversy was part of an extensive international trade in pelts of domesticated dogs. An investigation by the Humane Society revealed that the fur was making its way into the United States from China, where millions of dogs and cats were being treated cruelly and slaughtered for their fur using barbaric methods.

The Humane Society's investigation found that a dozen dogs and two dozen cats are killed for a single coat, and that the fur is often mislabeled. Labels on the coats in question read "Mongolia dog fur," but the company claimed they were unaware of the switch and that their vendor had admitted the coats included fur from dogs slaughtered in China.

The scandal caused outrage among customers and animal rights activists, and the company was strongly condemned by the Fur Information Council of America and other groups. As a result of the scandal, Burlington Coat Factory made a commitment to no longer sell fur in any of its stores across the country.

The incident highlighted the unethical and cruel practices involved in the fur trade, and the deception used to mislead consumers. It also raised questions about the responsibility of retailers in ensuring the sourcing and labelling of their products.

The company has been publicly traded since 2013

Burlington, formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, has had an interesting journey since it was founded in 1974. The company went public in 1983, but in 2006, it was purchased in a private sale and was no longer traded publicly.

In 2013, Burlington filed its S-1 registration statement with the SEC for an initial public offering, and the company went public again. In October 2013, the company's stock rose by more than 40% on its first day of trading, with reported sales of $4.35 billion in the 12 months prior. This was a significant achievement, especially considering the challenges faced by brick-and-mortar retailers at the time.

The company's decision to go public again in 2013 marked a return to its roots, as the new owner chose to operate the business in a similar way to the original family owners. This included a focus on providing good value to customers, which has been a key to Burlington's success and longevity.

Since 2013, Burlington has continued to thrive and expand. As of 2016, the company joined the Fortune 500 for the first time, demonstrating its strong financial performance and influence in the industry.

The company's ability to adapt to changing times, expand its product offerings beyond coats, and provide value to customers have been key factors in its success and continued public trading.

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