It's Better to Be a Retailer than a Supplier.(textile industry)

Home Textiles Today, October, 2006 by Hogsett, Don

By Don Hogsett New York -- It will come as no surprise to the nation's home fashions producers that it's better to be a retailer than a supplier today. And if you are going to be a retailer, it's far better to be one that sells goods at lower prices. This year's HTT Retail Report Card turns up the fact that three out of every four dollars spent at the 27 retail companies in this year's canvass were spent in channels of distribution which essentially didn't exist 27 years ago, when this newspaper was first published -- discounters, off-pricers and warehouse clubs.

One channel alone, warehouse clubs, and two retailers in it, Costco and Sam's, did almost three times as much business last year as the department stores in the Report Card. ...