PIER 1 IMPORTS’ MOST SENIOR EXECUTIVES HAVE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REASON FOR THEIR COMPANY’S SUCCESS. …OUR 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN INTERNATIONAL SOURCING IS OUR KEY STRATEGIC COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE, SAID CLARK A. JOHNSON, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST AND FASTEST GROWING SPECIALTY RETAILER OF DECORATIVE HOME FURNISHINGS, GIFTS AND RELATED ITEMS.
THE $132-MILLION COMPANY IS HEADQUARTERED IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS AND IS A SUBSIDIARY OF INTERMARK INC. PIER 1 IMPORTS INVENTORY CONSISTS OF DECORATIVE FURNISHINGS, GIFTS AND RELATED HOUSEHOLD ITEMS WHICH ARE IMPORTED DIRECTLY FROM 44 COUNTRIES AND OPERATES MORE THAN 600 STORES IN 42 STATES AND CANADA.
WE’RE KNOWN FOR OUR ECLECTIC MIX OF GOODS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, MARVIN GIROUARD, PRESIDENT AND COO, TOLD GLOBALFAX. AND WE DON’T DEPEND ON ANY ONE PARTICULAR COUNTRY.
MR. GIROUARD ADDED THAT MANY OF PIER 1 IMPORTS’ , OF WHICH SOME ARE EXCLUSIVELY MADE PRODUCTS FOR THEM, ARE NOT PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES, ARE HANDICRAFTS INDIGENOUS TO EACH OF THE SUPPLYING COUNTRIES AND THAT, IN MOST CASES, DOMESTIC TRADEOFFS
DON’T EXIST.
SRI-LANKA, CROATIA, PERU, POLAND AND GREECE ARE SOME OF THE COUNTRIES PROVIDING PRODUCTS NOT GENERALLY FOUND IN STORES SUCH AS K-MART OR WAL-MART. PIER 1 IMPORTS’ COMPETITOR ATLANTA-BASED WORLD BAZAAR, HE SAID, DOESN’T SOURCE ITS GOODS FROM AS MANY COUNTRIES. WORLD BAZAAR HAS SIMILAR TYPES OF PRODUCTS BUT DIDN’T GROW LIKE US, DISPLAY, UPGRADE, MARKET OR MANAGE AS WELL, HE SAID.
THE COMPANY NOW PLANS TO MAKE DIRECT INVESTMENTS AND OPEN COMPANY-OWNED RETAIL OUTLETS ABROAD AND TO ENTER THE INTERNATIONAL LICENSING BUSINESS WITH OVERSEAS PARTNERS. IN ADDITION, PIER I WILL BE EXPANDING ITS INTERNATIONAL SOURCING AND DISTRIBUTION CAPABILITIES BY OPENING A MAJOR CORPORATE BUYING OFFICE IN SOUTHEASTERN ASIA.
GLOBALFAX IS PLEASED TO INCLUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE MISSIONS, SEMINARS, AS WELL AS TO HIGHLIGHT THE ACTIVITIES OF GLOBAL COMPANIES IN THE SOUTHEAST. TO SPONSOR AN UPCOMING ISSUE OF THIS WEEKLY PUBLICATION RECEIVED BY 1,600 SELECT MEMBERS OF OUR NEWS AND INFORMATION NETWORK, PLEASE CONTACT THE AGIO PRESS, INC., 3384 PEACHTREE RD., NE, SUITE 308, ATLANTA, GA. 30326. TEL: 404-365-0892 FAX: 404-261-3954.