(Filed Under wholesale Lingerie News). CMK Distinctive Brands, which handles sales in the U.S. for such brands as Barbara and Zimmerli of Switzerland, has signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar funding agreement with Meritus Capital.

Russ Kelly of CMK told BODY, “Our new partnership will allow [us] to work together with our manufacturers, our representatives and retailers to create better, leaner and more cost effective inventory solutions from the factory to the retailers POS. Secondly, in todays world of technology-driven marketing and logistic-driven efficiencies there is an important role in facilitating our partners’ success both with the right products and services. Meritus is an excellent partner [that] can assist with creative solutions as distribution takes on new roles.”

According to Kelly, the funding agreement will strengthen his relationship with retailers. “Retailers today, large and small, department store or boutique, all have many of the same challenges.” He continued, emphasizing that “CMK believes that by supporting the ‘sell out,’ which in our opinion is more important than the sell in, we can be far more valuable to our retail partners. This new round of funding with Meritus will allow CMK to continue to expand our retailer support services both in store and in the forms of social media content and special events.”

There will also be benefits for the wholesalers that work with CMK. “The Meritus relationship for both larger retailers and our representatives opens a world of opportunities. Large companies, major household brands and multi-national companies, have always used a combination of money and technology for a competitive edge. The CMK / Meritus relationship now allows CMK to work closely with both the manufacturer and the retailer in the same fashions ‘the big guys’ do. Our larger retailers and reps now have the options available to provide seamless offerings from the factory to the selling floor. CMK then adds store line support, social content and the other omni-channel aids to help drive the sell through to assure success.”

“We are thrilled to have attracted CMK to our portfolio of successful fundings,” said Paul DeLuca, president of Meritus. “We were immediately attracted to their keen insight into the luxury import marketplace and realized that coupled with their knowledge and our capital we would make a fantastic team. We are excited to be the fuel for their growth and to see what new opportunities are opened due to our relationship.”

Meritus Capital provides specialty finance, technology and service solutions for the healthcare, staffing and other business-to-business sectors.

Cindy Kelly, added that “Our new relationship with Meritus Capital will give CMK the unique ability to assist our manufacturer’s entry and development in the US, mitigating risk and opening opportunities beyond traditional distribution, including shop-in-shop concepts, online inventory floor planning and various retailer credit options.”

According to a press statement on the deal, “Combined, CMK and Meritus can now create seamless product, logistic, and financial solutions for manufacturers and retailers alike.” Contact: Russ Kelly, COO russ@cmkdistinctivebrands.com

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Published 11-11-2013 by Nick Monjo