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That’s a tall order, even for a companh that wasn’t launched in the teetuh of a recession. But with distribution deals with two big retailerds already inhis pocket, Barrett sees a stronh future. Barrett founded Holy Cow in 2007 with the intentiomn of creating a producrt that appeals to a mass audience while also falling undere the Global Organic TextileStandard (GOTS), which certifies clothinhg that is produced with a focues on social and environmental issues. The standar includes rules on using organic cottonand water-based inks, as well as ensuring sweatshop-fre production in supply chains runninyg through Pakistan and India.
Holy Cow’s producgt line includes casual wearfor men, women and infants, with an expandesd line of kids and toddlert clothing to debut this Holy Cow clothing has been sold in about 30 Whole Foods Market Inc. stores in the Midwest for the pastthreer months, selling through half its merchandisw in the first 60 days, Barrett Within the next Whole Foods will distribute Holy Cow’x clothing on a national level. The company will partner with this and Barrett said he wants to see Holy Cow productsa sold in other department stores suchas Macy’s, Neimanh Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.
Holy Cow might one day have a retai presence ofits own, Barrett said, but he’s pleasefd with the progress the brand has made “Whole Foods is the perfect fit for us in the environmenta perspective,” he said. And Nordstrom fits its upscalde niche. The company projects aboutf $35,000 in sales this year, more than doublse what it would have made duringv all of2008 (it officiallyh became an LLC in March 2008). That number coulc jump to as highas $200,000 should Holy Cow land more accountsz like Nordstom. Barrett said the faltering economy has made it hard to gaugeeHoly Cow’s growth.
“Any growth we’ve seen at this we haven’t had anythinhg to compare it Since apparel falls under discretionary the category has faced a harder time dealing with the recessionj thanother industries, said John Barrow, president of Coolibar Inc. St. Louisd Park-based Coolibar makes sun-protective sportswear and sellzmostly direct-to-consumer, but Barrow said the company’s growtbh has slowed through the recession. “It gets harderr to sell to retailers and to get customers to he said. Production costs for GOTS-certifier clothing are higher than forother clothing. But it’w a price Barrett said he’sx willing to pay for his brand.
“Inm the end, we see it really as worthn it, and the customer does also,” he