Burlington Stores

Burlington Stores, Inc. (formerly Burlington Coat Factory) is a national off-price retail chain headquartered in Burlington, New Jersey, in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Founded in 1972 by Monroe Milstein as a coat outlet, Burlington has grown into one of America's largest off-price department stores with over 1,000 locations selling brand-name merchandise at discount prices. The company dropped "Coat Factory" from its name in 2014 to reflect its broader merchandise offerings, which now include apparel, footwear, accessories, home goods, and more. Burlington remains a significant Delaware Valley employer with deep roots in the Philadelphia region.

History

Origins (1972)

Burlington was founded in 1972:

Beginning:

• Monroe Milstein founded company
• Purchased coat factory outlet in Burlington, NJ
• Wholesaler turned retailer
• Coat focus initially

Burlington Coat Factory

Growth:

• Expanded coat factory concept
• Low-price positioning
• National expansion
• Name recognition

Expansion

20th century:

• Hundreds of stores
• East Coast focus initially
• National footprint
• Department store format

Bain Capital Era

Private equity:

• Taken private by Bain Capital (2006)
• Operational improvements
• Strategic repositioning
• Returned to public market

Burlington Rebrand (2014)

Name change:

• Dropped "Coat Factory" from name
• Reflected broader merchandise
• Modernized image
• Same value positioning

Modern Era

Today:

• 1,000+ stores
• National presence
• Off-price leader
• Continued growth

Business Model

Off-Price Retail

Value proposition:

• Brand-name merchandise
• Discount prices (up to 60% off)
• Opportunistic buying
• Treasure hunt experience

Merchandise

Categories:

• Apparel (men's, women's, kids')
• Coats (heritage category)
• Footwear
• Accessories
• Home goods
• Baby and kids

Buying Strategy

Opportunistic:

• Closeouts
• Overruns
• Pack and hold
• Vendor partnerships

Store Format

Environment:

• Large format stores
• Departmentalized
• Value signage
• High inventory

Operations

Store Count

Network:

• 1,000+ stores
• 45+ states
• Puerto Rico
• Continued expansion

Distribution

Logistics:

• Distribution centers
• Rapid replenishment
• Buying agility
• Supply chain

Real Estate

Locations:

• Strip centers
• Former big-box locations
• Suburban focus
• Value-oriented sites

Philadelphia Region

Burlington, NJ Headquarters

Corporate base:

• Named after headquarters city
• New Jersey location
• Philadelphia metro
• Delaware River

Employment

Regional jobs:

• Headquarters staff
• Distribution center
• Store operations
• Thousands employed

Heritage

Local roots:

• Founded in region
• Named for location
• Long-term presence
• Community connection

Competition

Off-Price Rivals

Competitors:

• TJX Companies (TJ Maxx, Marshalls)
• Ross Stores
• Nordstrom Rack
• Other discounters

Market Position

Standing:

• Third-largest off-price
• Strong coats heritage
• Growing market share
• Value positioning

Financial Performance

Growth

Metrics:

• $10+ billion revenue
• Consistent growth
• Store expansion
• Margin improvement

Stock Performance

Market:

• NYSE: BURL
• Retail sector
• Growth trajectory
• Investor interest

Culture

Brand Identity

Positioning:

• Value-focused
• Fashion for less
• Family oriented
• Treasure hunt experience

Company Culture

Workplace:

• Retail entrepreneurship
• Value creation
• Customer focus
• Growth mindset

Challenges

Competition

Market pressures:

• TJX dominance
• E-commerce growth
• Retail consolidation
• Market saturation

Inventory Management

Operational:

• Buying complexity
• Trend timing
• Inventory control
• Markdown management

Economic Sensitivity

Cycles:

• Consumer spending
• Discretionary retail
• Economic conditions
• Value resilience

Future

Strategy

Growth plan:

• New store expansion
• Small format tests
• Digital development
• Operational efficiency

Opportunity

Runway:

• Underpenetrated markets
• Off-price shift continues
• Store optimization
• Category expansion

See Also

• Philadelphia Businesses
• Philadelphia Retail
• Burlington, New Jersey

External Links

• Burlington