Quote:
Originally Posted by
Threak 
I doubt RL or any other brands make clothing specifically for these kinds of stores.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
plei89 Quoted For Truth.
Outlet's you're more likely to find items made for outlet purposes, Brooks Brothers and J Crew does this...
Oulets really used to be for B grade items, but now companies make lines for the outlet like 346 BB shirts, suits, etc.
I highly doubt they'll make inferior quality "polo shirts" to sell at Marshalls, which they don't even own. It'd make sense that at the RL outlet store, they would do that.
I'm pretty sure items aren't made to sell to STD stores, but rather are defective/irregular items which didn't pass QC.
And you'd both be wrong, sort of.
RL, Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Jeans and a few others all make merchandise specifically for Marshalls/TJ Maxx, Ross stores, Burlington Coat factory. Sometimes the product is exactly the same as you can buy in a department store and sometimes it is slightly different or last years model etc. It's not always easy to say it's inferior. Sometimes it might be different, sometimes not. Even if it is different it doesn't always make in inferior. The reason they do this is pure volume.
Marshalls/TJ Maxx (same company bought by the same buyers) have over 1600 stores. Even though manufacturers are selling to the discount stores at a discount there are less other costs involved in doing business with them. After end of season margin settlements with major department stores, the business done with off price retailers is often more profitable than doing business with Macy's, Bloomingdale's or Saks.
This comes from someone who used to manage this exact business for a brand.
