Apparel

American Apparel Inc. a vertically integrated manufacturer, distributor and retailer of branded fashion basic apparel, announced preliminary comparable sales for the month ended December 31, 2012, and reported that comparable store sales increased 14%, including a 9% increase in comparable store sales for its retail store channel and a 59% increase in net sales for its online channel. Wholesale net sales increased 12% for the month of December and total net sales increased 14% to $63.5 million.

Broder Bros. Co., a leading distributor of imprintable apparel, recently announced the acquisition of Imprints Wholesale of Denver, Colo. Founded in 1987, Imprints Wholesale has established a solid reputation for providing wholesale apparel and accessories with outstanding service.

Broder Bros. Co., the leading distributor of imprintable apparel based in Trevose, Pa., has announced the acquisition of Imprints Wholesale of Denver, Colo.

"Imprints is very excited about joining the Broder Bros. team," said Scott Lynes, founder and CEO of Imprints Wholesale. "We think Broder has a great business model and brand reputation and we look forward to contributing our best practices and being a partner of the industry leader."

Imprints Wholesale customers will continue to enjoy the relationships they have with their existing sales and customer service associates. In the months to come, as the two companies are able to integrate key services and product line offerings, customers will experience the benefits of increased product availability as well as improved distribution capabilities.

Check back with PromoMarketing.com tomorrow for more on the acquisition.

Bodek and Rhodes, a leading wholesaler of imprintable activewear, has bolstered its line with four new brands: A4, New Balance, Boxercraft and Igloo. Each of these brands offers a unique line of products that appeal to distinct industry trends and customer needs.

Heritage Sportswear Inc. and Virginia T's, wholesale suppliers of blank apparel and accessories, have combined operations to serve the promotional products industry as a more responsive, efficient business. 

DRI DUCK, one of the industry's leading outdoor apparel specialists, will have a booth on the 2013 PPAI Expo show floor in Las Vegas January 16 through 18. DRI DUCK will be introducing its 2013 product line and also launching a new interactive online training site, 3point5.com.

American Apparel, whose business was built on affordable basics produced right here in the US of A, has outgrown its iconic warehouse space in Downtown LA. And instead of annexing more space nearby, AA made the executive decision to invest in the future in a big way by leasing a nearly 225,000-square-foot, one-floor warehouse in La Mirada.

The vertically-integrated manufacturer is in the process of testing the equipment at its shiny, vast new space and plans to begin trucking in inventory this January. According to the company, the warehouse was needed for a few reasons. Space was one, speed another.

Restore the Shore, now an official nonprofit charity organization, has collected more than $147,000 so far, mostly by selling Restore the Shore clothing merchandise online in partnership with Staples Promotional Products.

The shirts, designed by Boonton graphic designer Brian Begley, do not include an image of the damaged Shore as many other Sandy shirts do. Instead, they feature a sky blue and white logo to symbolize hope and brightness, Kurek says. The organization has also held several benefit events, including a music festival on Dec. 2 in Ledgewood, and has joined forces with supporters running their own grass-roots Sandy fundraisers ...

The Bon-Ton Stores Inc., the Milwaukee and York, Pennsylvania-based operator of Boston Store, Younkers and other department store chains, has agreed to pay $450,000 to resolve allegations that it failed to tell federal regulators that it sold products recalled in 2010.

Under the civil penalty agreement with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bon-Ton denies agency staff allegations that the retailer knowingly violated the law. Bon-Ton was accused of failing to report to the agency immediately, as required by federal law, that its children’s hooded jackets and sweatshirts were sold with drawstrings through the hood.

AHEAD, the highly regarded headwear, accessories and apparel manufacturer, has agreed to a multi-year strategic partnership with Avendra, which provides a wide range of procurement services to companies in many industries, including golf.