Burlington's Coat Business

Burlington, formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, is an American national off-price department store retailer with over 600 stores across the country. The company was started in 1972 by the Milstein family, who initially sold coats and jackets in wholesale. Over the years, they expanded their product range to include clothing, accessories, linens, gift items, baby products, and shoes, and the company's name was shortened to Burlington. Today, Burlington still sells a variety of products, including coats, and is the third-largest off-price retailer in the United States.

Burlington coat prices

Burlington, formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, is an American off-price retailer with over 1,000 stores across the country. The company offers a wide range of products, including clothing, accessories, home decor, toys, and gifts, with a particular focus on offering deals and discounts.

Coat prices at Burlington can vary depending on the style, material, and features of the coat. For example, on Amazon, a women's long hooded rain jacket costs $25, while a women's winter thicken puffer coat with a faux fur removable hood starts at $44.96 with an 8% coupon applied at checkout. Burlington also offers coats for men, with prices ranging from $39.99 for a winter snow coat to varying prices for a military tactical sport jacket or a winter quilted puffer coat.

In addition to Amazon, coats can also be purchased at Burlington stores located across the United States. The company frequently offers deals and discounts, with some coats starting as low as $19.99 in-store. Burlington also offers a credit card that allows customers to earn points on their purchases, as well as a loyalty program to reward frequent shoppers.

Overall, Burlington offers a wide range of coat options at varying price points, making it a popular destination for those seeking affordable and trendy outerwear.

Burlington's history

Burlington, formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, is an American national off-price department store retailer. The company has its roots in the wholesale business, dating back to 1924 when it was founded as a ladies' coats and junior suits wholesaler. In 1946, Monroe Milstein and his father, Abe, joined the business, and in 1972, Monroe and his wife, Henrietta, purchased a former factory outlet in Burlington, New Jersey, for $675,050. The down payment of $75,000 was mostly saved by Henrietta from her job as a librarian. This marked the beginning of Burlington's retail business, with its first store selling coats and jackets.

To reduce their dependency on the seasonal coat business, the Milsteins began adding other clothing items and accessories. They expanded their product range to include linens, gift items, baby products, and shoes. The company gradually grew, opening its second location in 1975 in Copiague, Long Island. By 1982, the company's annual sales exceeded $130 million, and in 1983, with 31 locations, Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation went public. The company continued to expand, and by the end of the 1980s, it operated 134 stores in 37 states, generating over $600 million in net sales.

In 1990, Burlington established a 438,000-square-foot national distribution center, improving inventory controls and taking advantage of economies of scale. The company's sales continued to grow, surpassing $1 billion in 1993. By 1994, Burlington operated 185 stores across 39 states. In 1998, the company faced controversy when the Humane Society of the United States revealed that they were selling parkas trimmed with dog fur from China. In 1999, Burlington expanded further, opening 27 new stores and launching its first e-commerce website.

In 2006, the company was acquired by Bain Capital Partners for $2.06 billion, and the Milstein family's association with the business came to an end. Burlington continued to grow, and in 2012, it received a $40 million incentive from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to build a new headquarters in Florence, New Jersey. The company went public again in 2013, and in 2015, it surpassed $5 billion in sales. To reflect its expanded product range, the company rebranded from Burlington Coat Factory to Burlington Stores in 2013. As of 2023, Burlington operates more than 1,000 stores in 40 states and Puerto Rico, offering a wide range of products beyond just coats.

Burlington's charitable work

Burlington, formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, is an American national off-price department store retailer with over 1,000 stores in 40 states and Puerto Rico. The company has engaged in charitable partnerships with several organisations over the years.

Since 2002, Burlington has partnered with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night campaign, collecting donations at store checkouts. With an annual fundraiser that runs from July to October, the company raised over $3 million in 2013, bringing the total amount raised to over $19 million.

In 2006, Burlington launched the Warm Coats and Warm Hearts Drive to collect coat donations for those in need. Partnering with ABC's Good Morning America and the national nonprofit Fashion Delivers, Burlington stores served as drop-off spots for donations, which were then distributed within the area by local charities. Since the program's inception, over 1.2 million coats have been collected and distributed.

In 2012, the company first partnered with WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease to promote women's heart health education during National Heart Health Month. As part of this partnership, Burlington holds a yearly Red Dress Event, where red dresses are sold in stores, with $1 from every sale donated to WomenHeart. In 2014, as part of the partnership, they launched the “Heart of Style Tour”. For the tour, a bus travelled to various store locations, with heart health professionals on board providing blood pressure and Body Mass Index (BMI) tests, as well as education about women's heart disease.

Burlington has also been involved with other charitable organisations, such as the Burlington Foundation, which works with the community to address vital needs, make grants, and help build legacies for the future. The foundation brings individuals and public and private organisations together to address community needs and support charitable giving objectives.

Overall, Burlington has demonstrated a commitment to supporting charitable causes and making a positive impact in its communities.

Burlington's animal rights controversy

Burlington, formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, has been at the centre of an animal rights controversy. The company was accused of labelling real fur products as "faux fur". An undercover investigation by the Humane Society of the United States revealed that coats sold in stores were made from the pelts of animals killed in China, contrary to the false advertisements.

Further investigations found that, in addition to real fur being falsely labelled, the coats sold in stores such as Burlington Coat Factory also contained hair from raccoon dogs. This discovery sparked outrage among animal rights activists and prompted the company to re-evaluate its product sourcing and labelling practices.

Burlington Coat Factory has since agreed to pull the false advertisements and address the concerns raised by the investigation. This incident has brought to light the importance of transparency and ethical practices in the fashion industry, particularly regarding the use of animal products.

The controversy surrounding Burlington Coat Factory's labelling practices has had a significant impact on consumer trust and confidence in the company. It has also sparked a broader conversation about animal welfare and ethical sourcing in the fashion industry. Many consumers are now more conscious of the products they purchase and are demanding greater transparency from retailers.

Burlington's urban legends

Burlingtons Urban Legends

Burlington, formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, is an off-price department store retailer with over 1,000 stores across the United States. The company has been at the centre of several urban legends and controversies over the years.

Snakes in the Coats

One urban legend that circulated in the early 1990s claimed that snakes were hiding in the coats being sold at Burlington. This rumour was dispelled by a company representative, who assured customers that the cool temperatures in distribution centres and stores (maintained at 68 °F) would not allow snakes to survive.

Secret Underground Bowling Alley

In a Reddit thread dedicated to urban legends in Buffalo, New York, one user mentions a rumour about an entire town's infrastructure, including a bowling alley, being located underground near a Burlington Coat Factory store on Walden, close to the mall. The user speculates that this could have been built as a shelter during the Cold War in case of a nuclear attack. However, despite their efforts to find it, they have been unsuccessful.

False Advertising of Real Fur as "Faux Fur"

In addition to urban legends, Burlington Coat Factory has also faced accusations of false advertising. The company was investigated by the animal welfare organisation Humane Society of the United States, which revealed that some products labelled as "faux fur" were actually made from real animal fur. As a result, Burlington agreed to pull the false advertisements.

September 11, 2001 Attacks

On September 11, 2001, during the terrorist attacks, a hijacked plane crashed into the World Trade Center, with parts of the landing gear and fuselage destroying two floors of the Burlington Coat Factory store in Manhattan. This store, which was the company's first location in Manhattan, opened in 1991. The incident caused major structural damage to the building, and it later became part of a national controversy when efforts to build a Muslim centre and mosque at the site sparked protests.

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