But Milstein maintains that the Internet is still in its early days and there's plenty of time to make a mark. We feel if you give the customer a better buy, a better selection and better quality, you can start tomorrow and still grow. The Early Days Burlington Coat Factory runs 263 stores, competing with major department stores by selling coats, clothing, linens, housewares and baby goods at a discount. Milstein's father, Abe, founded the company as a wholesale outerwear business. N.J. The company offers sales of 4,000 items on its Web site, which brings in modest revenues, says Garry Graham, the company's marketing director.
Online revenues are insignificant compared with store revenues, but they're growing fast.
Online sales increased threefold this year over last year, and 11-fold last year over the prior year. For example, regions where online sales are brisk point the way to where new stores might be built, Graham says. The company is in the early stages of a major e-commerce project. Last month, it started planning a system to bring its suppliers online. The company's Internet Sourcing Network will let Burlington Coat Factory order its stock online, putting suppliers in touch with Burlington Coat Factory's internal buyers.