Opinion ID: 2330622
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Brighton's Heart Store and Luggage Applications

Text: Since 1998, Brighton has offered a Heart Store program to retailers, which offers incentives for retailers to expand their business with Brighton. In exchange for these incentives, Heart Stores are expected to maintain certain levels of Brighton inventory, to display Brighton products in a dedicated section of the store, and to service Brighton products regardless of where they were purchased. A retailer becomes a Heart Store by signing an application, which is then approved by Brighton. Less than 5 percent of Brighton's retailers are Heart Stores. Applications for Heart Store status must be submitted each calendar year. The Heart Store applications for the years 2001 and 2002 included language that the applicant would maintain minimum inventory, showcase Brighton products in dedicated spaces, [s]ell Brighton products for the suggested price every day, 365 days a year, and close out markdown styles you do not plan to reorder. The Heart Store applications for 2003 and later do not include that language, but they do include a statement that Brighton reserves the right to withdraw Heart Store benefits from any store that does not represent Brighton in a positive and quality manner. To sell Brighton luggage, a separate agreement must be signed by the retailer. As with the Heart Stores, a retailer must apply to become a Brighton luggage retailer. Luggage retailers must maintain a certain inventory of products. About 5 percent of Brighton retailers sell Brighton luggage. The application to sell Brighton luggage for calendar year 2003 included language that the applicant agreed to display a certain number of pieces and agreed to sell the luggage at the suggested retail price. The luggage applications for prior and subsequent years did not include such language. Brighton never made any express or explicit promise to enforce its retail pricing policy against other Brighton retailers as an incentive for a retailer to become a Heart Store or luggage store.