Chairman Message

Dear friends:

This report summarizes the activities and initiatives pursued by the more than 10,000 people who push USRC forward each day. Commitment to creative fashion which drives us all, and how we generate social and economic value in the process. It reflects the investment and the sustainable growth model we deploy to build our integrated store and online platforms, all of which is framed by specific and measurable sustainability, transparency and traceability principles.

Beyond the facts and figures, however, United State Retail Corporation is about people. Our people share the same entrepreneurial spirit, unwavering drive, and determination to build the business on the basis of hard work, humility and respect for diversity.

Revenue reached a record high in 2019, representing year-on-year growth of 15%, 19% in constant-currency terms.

 Sustainability and social value generation are at the heart of our business. This report sets out our contribution to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for tackling climate change, poverty and inequality as well as our commitment to the United Nations Global Compact and the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Through this collaboration, we are fostering important initiatives in support of the freedom to unionize, collective bargaining rights and women’s empowerment.  

We have invested significantly in research and development in the environmental sustainability arena. This includes investing in the eco-efficiency of our offices and logistics platforms, introducing advanced waste recycling and re-use solutions, particularly for cardboard and plastics. We also made decisive progress on the use of sustainable fabrics and processes in our collections.

The 2020-2030 Sustainability Plan, whose objective is to put in place the principles of the circular economy.  This vision of our business is complemented by the work done with entities specialized in fostering community well-being and education, enhancing the job prospects of at-risk groups and providing emergency relief. I trust that the following pages will provide a balanced view not only of our customer-centric business model, our people-focused values and our social, economic and sustainable value creation priorities, but also the sense of purpose, dedication and passion.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support of the United State Retail Corporation

 

Joseph M. Whaley III
Chairman of the Board