Page 4

 "Out of masks and scared of SARS? Try a bra
TTAIPEI - Villagers in southern Taiwan are strapping bras to their faces to guard against the deadly SARS virus due to a shortage of surgical masks. 
"I went to every pharmacy in the village and it's impossible to find a proper mask," a middle-aged man told cable television, his face partially covered by a dark red cup. 
"Somebody came up with this idea so I decided to give it a try," he said at a village near the southern city of Tainan. 
A small bra factory is producing the make-shift masks, with workers cutting each of its colorful bras into two and sewing on extra straps to help the desperate villagers. 
Face masks have disappeared from many store shelves as Taiwan's Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) infections tripled in the past two weeks to 360 cases, the third highest in the world after China and Hong Kong. 

      
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A sweatshop labor controversy dating back to 1996 is
rumored to be behind Wal-Mart's 
decision to phase out Kathie Lee 
Gifford's clothing line from its stores 
this year At the time the range from
the former TV host was slammed
by labor activists who revealed that 
some of the Gifford products were 
manufactured in a Honduran sweatshop
employing children. 
Recent sales are also reported to have
been sagging. 
But Wal-Mart says it has been 
gradually reducing its stocks of the apparel for several 
seasons, and that the clothing line was scheduled to end
in 2003. And Gifford's representatives said the contract 
for the clothing had been extended twice since the controversy.

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 Charming Shoppes Suffers Q1 Profit Slump 
Women's plus-size apparel chain Charming Shoppes Inc 
suffered a sharp slide in first quarter net profit as sales 
slumped, it revealed on Thursday.
The Pennsylvania-based operator of 2,245 stores under 
banners such as Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug and Catherine's 
Plus Sizes, reported net income of $9.7 million, or eight 
cents per share, versus $17.3m, or 14 cents per share, in 
the year-ago period.
Sales fell 11 per cent to $564m from $630m with same-store 
sales down six per cent.
It also revised its annual sales outlook to $2.3 billion with 
same-store sales seen down in the low single digits. The firm 
added it expects full year earnings of 26 to 28 cents a share
and second quarter earnings of 12 to 14 cents a share.
Chairman, president and CEO, Dorrit Bern, said: "We 
continue to be affected by a weak economic environment, 
resulting in soft consumer demand for apparel. As a result, 
we did not meet our sales plan for the quarter, primarily 
attributable to lower traffic levels in our stores.
"We have been able to partially offset sales shortfalls to 
plan by focusing on and reducing our controllable expenses. 
Additionally, strong inventory management has led to 
improved merchandise margins at our Fashion Bug and 
Catherine's Plus Sizes brands.
"Our Lane Bryant brand continues to under-perform, as 
we continue to sell through Spring apparel assortments 
that have not met with customer acceptance."


2/7

  Bluefly Shares Soar On Soros Cash Boost 
Leading online fashion retailer Bluefly Inc saw its shares jump 
more than 70 per cent on Thursday after a group led by 
billionaire George Soros had invested another $1 million in the 
company, giving it extra money for operations.
The New York-based firm said in a statement Soros Private 
Equity Partners had fulfilled a previous commitment to provide 
up to $1m in cash if needed.


2/7
 
  Bon-Ton Stores Narrows First-Quarter Loss 
Department store operator Bon-Ton Stores Inc on Thursday 
said it narrowed its losses in the first quarter of fiscal 2003 on 
improved margins and tighter inventory control. 
The York, Pennsylvania, retailer reported a net loss of $2.9 
million for the first quarter of fiscal 2003 compared to a net 
loss of $4.4 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2002. 
Total sales fell 6.2 per cent to $141.1 million from $150.5 
million reported for the same period last year due to the 
continuing weak economy. Increases in coats, accessories 
and shoes were offset by decreases in men's, children's, 
junior's and misses', the company said in a statement 
First quarter comparable store sales for the quarter 
decreased 5.6 per cent.

Mothercare Swings To FY Loss, 15 Stores Axed 
Maternity wear and babies' apparel chain Mothercare Plc on Thursday revealed plans to axe 15 unprofitable stores after it swung to a major full year loss.
The Watford-based operator of nearly 250 outlets reported a pre-tax loss before exceptionals of £19.6 million versus a year-ago profit of £4.2m. Excluding one-off items and exceptional charges, its operating loss for the year was £10.4m.
The company said the closure of the 15 stores represent eight per cent of its 173 town centre store portfolio and added its 68 out-of-town stores will remain unaffected.
CEO Ben Gordon, who is overseeing a three-year reorganisation plan, said in a statement the outlets have continued to under-perform and are unlikely to see their performance improve with the measures currently being put in place.
Earlier this year Mothercare issued a profit warning on the back of a 1.1 per cent slide in same-store sales over the crucial Christmas trading period.

                                 Union Shop
A dedicated shop steward was at a convention in Las Vegas and decided to check out the local brothels.
When he got to the first one, he asked the madam, "Is this a union house?"
"No, I'm sorry, it isn't" , said the madam.
"Well, if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?" "The house gets $80 and the girl gets $20."
Mightily offended at such unfair dealings, the man stomped off down the street in search of a more equitable shop.
At the second one, he asked the madam, "Is this a union house?"
"No, I'm sorry, it isn't" , said the madam.
"If I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?"
"The house gets $80 and the girl gets $20."
Again offended, the man stomped off down the street in search of a more equitable shop. His search continued until he finally reached a brothel where the madam said, "Why yes, this is a union house."
"And if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?"
"The girls get $80 and the house gets $20."
"That’s more like it!", the man said. He looked around the room and pointed to a stunningly attractive redhead. "I'd like her for the night."
"I'm sure you would, sir", said the madam, gesturing to a fat woman in her fifties in the corner, "but Ethel here has seniority."

                                                                                 
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