Hanes' T-Shirt White Out

Hanesbrands Inc. is trying to eliminate the middleman by designing and selling graphic t-shirts direct to retailers in effort to boost sales from current $100 million to $300 million. The company consolidated manufacturing to three areas (China, Dominican Republic, and El Salvador), opened up design offices, intends to concentrate on women's fashion, and will churn out exclusive deigns for Kohl's, JC Penney's, and other retailers, according to a Wall Street Journal article. All this rejiggering of the supply chain and design process results in faster turnaround times for hot items -- down by half to six-to-10 weeks -- and at a lower cost point.