American Apparel, Los Angeles, this week announced an exclusive partnership with online auction house eBay. The multi-year deal will create the first brand lifestyle shop on the auction site, allowing eBay surfers and shoppers to purchase directly from the factory.
“There are more than 30,000 searches for American Apparel on eBay each month and right now those customers are not buying from us directly,” explained Dov Charney, CEO and founder of American Apparel, in a statement released by the company. “I’m excited to connect that demand to our vertically integrated production and distribution platform to create a new revenue channel for American Apparel.”
The store, expected to open in September, is part of the company’s aggressive plan to expand into new markets.
Late last week, the company announced an agreement that would expand American Apparel’s presence in Europe. Selfridges, an upscale United Kingdom-based department store, will be adding the brand to half a dozen of its stores in the coming year, and Galeries Lafayette in France will also increase distribution of American Apparel products.
The company is also rumored to be in talks with retailer Bloomingdale’s for a distribution deal. If the eBay venture goes well, American Apparel hopes to bring a similar in-store department to the American department store.
For more information, visit American Apparel’s website.
