As most retailers reel from a dreadful holiday season (table), a little-known apparel chain has cause to celebrate. The Buckle, a 388-outlet youth-oriented retailer, hadrna great December, with year-over-year sales climbing 13.5% on average at stores open for at least a year. Overall sales for 2008 are on track to grow 26%, to $780 million, one of the best performances in retailing.rnHow does the Buckle do it? Most specialty retailers slap their own logo on merchandise. The Buckle does 70% of its business in independently owned lines. Its buyers stay on top of the hot labels -Af-rnfliction Clothing and MEK Denim, for instance-a strat -egy made for the Internet Age, when buzz travels fast and popularity can be measured in months.
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