VF Dresses Up Its Operations, Bucking Recession.

The article reports on the strategy of VF Corp. to survive the downturn in consumer spending in the U.S. by adding new retail stores and planning to snap up new brands according to chief executive Eric Wiseman. It cites the plan of the Greensboro, North Carolina-based apparel maker to open at least 70 new boutiques worldwide in 2009. According to Wiseman, VF is monitoring its balance sheet, which had $382 million in cash at the end of 2008, and a $1.3 billion letter of credit.