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Russell
Corporation Russell Corporation was founded in 1902 in Alexander City,
Alabama by Benjamin Russell, who started with eight knitting machines and
10 sewing machines. Today, Russell is an international apparel company
specializing in activewear, casualwear and athletic uniforms with over $1
billion in annual sales. The company has more than 15,000 employees
worldwide. Russell's heritage is based on quality athletic product and the
company is the largest supplier of athletic team uniforms in the United
States. Beyond the athletic category, Russell sells sweatshirts, T-shirts
and other casualwear throughout the world under its best-known brands,
Russell Athletic, JERZEES and Cross Creek. The company is organized into
five divisions, each with its own president so that divisions will have
authority and accountability for their line of business. The divisions
are: Russell Athletic, JERZEES Retail, Russell Artwear, International and
Fabrics. Each division focuses on its own products and channel of
distribution and sales. For nearly 100 years, the Russell name has meant
quality, durability and comfort and that same commitment is still woven
into each of the company's brands.
The Company's major
brands include Russell Athletic,
JERZEES, Mossy
Oak and Cross Creek. The
Company designs and merchandises a variety of leisure and sports apparel
marketed to sporting goods dealers, department and specialty stores, mass
merchandisers, golf pro shops, college bookstores, screen printers and
embroiderers, distributors, mail order houses and other apparel
manufacturers. Products are derived from a combination of internally
produced products, contractors and third-party sources.
The Company produces athletic uniforms for most sports activities and for
players of all ages and sizes. These products are marketed to
professional, collegiate, high school and other teams, as well as to
individuals. Activewear and casual apparel, such as t-shirts, fleece
sweatshirts and sweatpants, pullovers, jackets and other knitted apparel
products, are produced for the general consumer market. Product lines also
include placket shirts, turtlenecks and golf apparel. The Company also
produces sports and casual socks, including tube, quarter anklet and crew
socks
for men, women and children. Woven fabrics are produced and sold to other
apparel manufacturers.
The Company has two business segments, Activewear and International. These
segments offer similar products and operate in multiple locations. The
segments are each managed separately because they manufacture and
distribute
products into different geographical areas.
Activewear
The Company's Activewear segment consists of three brands that sell to
sporting goods dealers, department and specialty stores, mass merchants,
wholesale clubs, college bookstores, screen printers, distributors, golf
pro shops and mail order catalogs. The Company's activewear apparel
products include t-shirts, fleece products, such as sweat shirts and
pants,
athletic uniforms, knit shirts, and other activewear casual apparel. The
Activewear segment consists of the primary operations of the Company's
JERZEES, Russell Athletic and Cross Creek brands. Activewear is sold by a
combination of a salaried, Company-employed sales force and commission
agents.
The Activewear segment utilizes Company-owned manufacturing facilities to
produce product, as well as contractors or other vendors for components in
the manufacturing process or for the procurement of finished product.
Generally, Company-owned and operated manufacturing facilities for
Activewear consist of fabrication, dyeing and finishing, cutting and
sewing.
Russell Yarn consists of the spinning of yarns, the process by which
fibers of raw cotton or blends of cotton and synthetic fibers are
converted into continuous strands. Yarn uniformity and strength are the
principal characteristics that materially affect the efficiency of
subsequent manufacturing processes and the quality of the finished fabrics
or apparel. This unit manufactures a variety of yarn sizes primarily for
use in the balance of the Company's manufacturing processes.
International
The International strategic business unit manufactures and distributes
activewear products under the JERZEES, Russell Athletic and Cross Creek
brands throughout various countries outside the United States and Canada.
This segment's major market is Europe, where the Company engages in both
manufacturing and marketing of activewear similar to the processes for the
Activewear segment.
Russell Fabrics designs, manufactures and markets quality woven fabrics of
cotton, polyester and cotton/polyester blends in a variety of patterns,
colors and constructions to other apparel manufacturers, primarily for the
manufacture of school and industrial uniforms. DeSoto
Mills is a manufacturer of popularly priced socks for men, women and
children under the Company's JERZEES and Russell Athletic brands.
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