August 17, 2015
By Lauren Gensler
Urban Outfitters URBN +0.00% reported better-than-expected earnings (click here) in its fiscal second quarter on Monday, bolstered by higher sales across its brands.
The apparel and accessories retailer, which embraces a focus on young consumers, has been struggling to combat falling margins and weakness at its namesake Urban Outfitters stores. (click here)
Yet, same-store sales rose across the board during the quarter, jumping 14% at Free People, 4% at Urban Outfitters and 2% at Anthropologie.
Shares rose 5% in after-hours trading.
The strength across its brands helped push the company over a new top-line milestone. “We are pleased to announce record sales for the second quarter driven by positive retail segment comp growth at each brand,” said CEO Richard Hayne in a statement....
Why the Union then?
As Urban Outfitters whisks in new fall styles, its parent company is bringing in a new employment trend — asking staff to volunteer for unpaid work.
Volunteers. Urban Outfitters wants their employees to be volunteers. Amazing.
Richard Hayne, founder and CEO of Urban Outfitters. (AP Photo/George Widman)
URBN, the owner of retail chains Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People, sent out an email Tuesday to salaried employees working at its home office in Philadelphia proposing the innovative strategy.
As the email, obtained by Gawker, explained, "October will be the busiest month yet for the center, and we need additional helping hands to ensure the timely shipment of orders."
URBN pitched the idea, which would see staff members working side by side on weekends with people who are actually paid to be there, as an opportunity to "experience our fulfillment operations first hand" and "help pick, pack and ship orders."...
This is a new trend? It cuts into the viability of the US Economy. I think it is worse than Walmart and it's advisory offices to apply for Medicaid and Food Stamps. At least the Walmart employees still received something rather than just an "Atta boy."
The store is not healthy for a local economy. I am sure there are store fronts where small businesses can be started with REAL unique fashion choices while they pay their employees a living wage. UNIQUE fashion begins with seamstresses.
Theresa is the only seamstress (click here) that performs a pick-up and delivery service right to your home. Additional services include hemming, alterations, and custom-made creations. Curtains, dresses, shirts, pants, blankets, uniforms, couch cushions, and more... If you need alterations or a custom made product, contact Theresa the Seamstress today!
There needs to be a dress designer opportunity from the local community college that will uniquely design fashions the public is looking for. Local High School teams can find their own designer fashions for sale to supporters, etc. That's the idea.
From inspection of design to local marketing. And everyone gets paid.
The concept is highly MORAL, respects human dignity and uniqueness and values collective bargaining when it 'finally arrives."
The best example I can think of is "Barbizon." (click here) It was a clothing company where women were employed and I think they were unionized. The clothing that still exists today is considered vintage clothing. Those items are sold for far more today than when they were brand new.
Rayon is a great fabric, too. Designs for unique clothing business can also have local and independent weavers, All Cotton or Wool, etc. It can get very interesting to the public as well.
Dreams can come true. There is a USA design-manufacturing company, what is their name?
"Alabama Chanin" (click here) This is a little pricey for the average purchaser, however, it can start with 'basics' of clothing that has longevity and doesn't fall apart in one fashion season. These folks have been in business for awhile. Everything is hand made. If local fashions want a start up, they can grow into any saturation for hand made clothing. What is really nice about having control of a product from start to finish is the morality of it. AND. There are many people in the year 2015 that have allergies, sometimes severe that would love to purchase sturdy and fashion. Just a thought.
By Lauren Gensler
Urban Outfitters URBN +0.00% reported better-than-expected earnings (click here) in its fiscal second quarter on Monday, bolstered by higher sales across its brands.
The apparel and accessories retailer, which embraces a focus on young consumers, has been struggling to combat falling margins and weakness at its namesake Urban Outfitters stores. (click here)
Yet, same-store sales rose across the board during the quarter, jumping 14% at Free People, 4% at Urban Outfitters and 2% at Anthropologie.
Shares rose 5% in after-hours trading.
The strength across its brands helped push the company over a new top-line milestone. “We are pleased to announce record sales for the second quarter driven by positive retail segment comp growth at each brand,” said CEO Richard Hayne in a statement....
Why the Union then?
As Urban Outfitters whisks in new fall styles, its parent company is bringing in a new employment trend — asking staff to volunteer for unpaid work.
Volunteers. Urban Outfitters wants their employees to be volunteers. Amazing.
URBN, the owner of retail chains Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People, sent out an email Tuesday to salaried employees working at its home office in Philadelphia proposing the innovative strategy.
As the email, obtained by Gawker, explained, "October will be the busiest month yet for the center, and we need additional helping hands to ensure the timely shipment of orders."
URBN pitched the idea, which would see staff members working side by side on weekends with people who are actually paid to be there, as an opportunity to "experience our fulfillment operations first hand" and "help pick, pack and ship orders."...
This is a new trend? It cuts into the viability of the US Economy. I think it is worse than Walmart and it's advisory offices to apply for Medicaid and Food Stamps. At least the Walmart employees still received something rather than just an "Atta boy."
The store is not healthy for a local economy. I am sure there are store fronts where small businesses can be started with REAL unique fashion choices while they pay their employees a living wage. UNIQUE fashion begins with seamstresses.
Theresa is the only seamstress (click here) that performs a pick-up and delivery service right to your home. Additional services include hemming, alterations, and custom-made creations. Curtains, dresses, shirts, pants, blankets, uniforms, couch cushions, and more... If you need alterations or a custom made product, contact Theresa the Seamstress today!
There needs to be a dress designer opportunity from the local community college that will uniquely design fashions the public is looking for. Local High School teams can find their own designer fashions for sale to supporters, etc. That's the idea.
From inspection of design to local marketing. And everyone gets paid.
The concept is highly MORAL, respects human dignity and uniqueness and values collective bargaining when it 'finally arrives."
Rayon is a great fabric, too. Designs for unique clothing business can also have local and independent weavers, All Cotton or Wool, etc. It can get very interesting to the public as well.
Dreams can come true. There is a USA design-manufacturing company, what is their name?
"Alabama Chanin" (click here) This is a little pricey for the average purchaser, however, it can start with 'basics' of clothing that has longevity and doesn't fall apart in one fashion season. These folks have been in business for awhile. Everything is hand made. If local fashions want a start up, they can grow into any saturation for hand made clothing. What is really nice about having control of a product from start to finish is the morality of it. AND. There are many people in the year 2015 that have allergies, sometimes severe that would love to purchase sturdy and fashion. Just a thought.
