Raj Expands Headquarters, Adds Employees
Swimwear maker Raj Manufacturing, based in Tustin, Calif., has added 10,000 square feet of warehouse space to make room for its new brands, new employees and expected sales growth.
Raj, which broke ground on the newly constructed warehouse in May, added three new brands to its roster of women’s swimwear labels in 2008. Luxe by Lisa Vogel, an in-house brand, and Ella Moss Swimwear and Hurley Swimwear, both licensed brands, were all launched this year.
Raj expects sales growth of 15 percent to 20 percent over each of the next three years due to burgeoning international sales and its expanded offerings, a statement said.
“Our goal with this expansion is to solidify our competitive advantage, which is to react quickly to new trends in the swimwear market. With the growth in our designer-label portfolio of swim brands, the additional space will be used for stocking and staging of orders,” said Alex Bhathal, Raj’s co-president. “The new warehouse space will allow us to build more inventories in our fastest-moving products and process orders more quickly and efficiently than in the past seasons.”Raj Manufacturing, founded in 1967, is one of the few vertical swimwear manufacturers left in the United States.
The newly built warehouse frees up approximately 10,000 square feet of office space in Raj’s main building, which the company is renovating into a new design and merchandising studio. It will accommodate design and merchandising, patternmaking, and sample sewing. The remodel is expected to be completed in January 2009.
To help maximize its revamped infrastructure, Raj is hiring a variety of workers, from warehouse workers to positions in design and sales, Bhathal said.
Raj Manufacturing makes swimwear for ATHENA Pick Your Fit, Next by Athena, Luxe by Lisa Vogel, O’Neill Swimwear, GUESS by Marciano, Ella Moss Swimwear, Hurley Swimwear, St. John Swim and Tommy Hilfiger Swimwear. —Erin Barajas
