Apparel Retailer Upgrades Import Management

Specialty apparel retailer Charming Shoppes renewed and expanded its contract to use the Web-based data platform provided by GT Nexus for import management.

Delivered via the software as a service model, the platform supports and automates logistics processes for the retailer, including item-level visibility, air and sea freight contracting, Customs documentation, and performance analytics.

The Bensalem, Pa.-based retailer specializes primarily in women's plus-size apparel through three subsidiary store brands: Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, and Catherines Plus Sizes, with outlet stores under the Lane Bryant label. With more than 2,200 stores in 48 states and $2.5 billion in fiscal 2008 annual sales, the company is the third-largest women's specialty apparel retailer in the United States, as measured by store units.

“For the past few years, we have relied on the GT Nexus system to provide the visibility and control necessary to manage our import operations. We have a great foundation in place which we plan to build out and leverage further across our operation, including expansion of capabilities into automated freight audit and actual landed cost calculation,” said Laurie Everill, director of international trade, logistics and compliance at Charming Shoppes.

Contact Thomas L. Gallagher at tgallagher@joc.com.