Overstock.com Goes Fur-Free |
 |
July 10, 2008
| |
 |
| |
©iStockphoto |
| |
Rabbits are among the animals who can rejoice about Overstock.com's decision to go fur-free. |
Web-based retail giant Overstock.com, Inc., will no longer sell products online that contain animal fur, effective today. With annual revenues exceeding $700 million, Overstock.com became the 100th name on The Humane Society of the United States's list of retailers and designers.
It is the first purely online retailer to commit to a fur-free policy.
Overstock.com offers high-quality, brand-name merchandise at discount prices. The company offers 100,000 products on its website—including apparel, designer accessories, bed-and-bath goods and sporting goods—in addition to nearly 700,000 media products for sale. Overstock.com also operates a socially responsible goods department, Worldstock.com.
Overstock.com announced the animal-friendly development at a joint news conference this morning with the Humane Society of the United States. The CEOs of both organizations offered comments on the rightness of a fur-free policy.
A Standard for Other Retailers to Follow
Patrick M. Byrne, chairman and chief executive officer of Overstock.com, said, "The Humane Society of the United States brought to our attention its issues about the fur industry. They did so in a thoughtful, measured way. We listened and decided that they are right. So we are going fur-free."
"We are delighted to have such a powerhouse in the online retail industry join the list of retailers and designers who reject the cruel practices of the fur industry," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.
"By refusing to sell animal fur, Overstock.com is distinguishing itself as a compassionate and socially responsible company. The company has set a standard for others in the industry to follow."
Fur-Free Policies Save Animals
The Humane Society of the United States urges all designers and retailers to adopt fur-free policies to protect the more than 75 million animals worldwide who suffer and die annually for their pelts. Only by refusing to sell any animal fur products can these merchandisers protect themselves and their customers from the false advertising and labeling that currently plagues the industry.
Over the last three winters, The HSUS has identified dozens of falsely-advertised or falsely-labeled garments—70 percent of which contained fur from the raccoon dog, an Asian member of the dog family that has been documented to be skinned alive in China. Among the false names used for raccoon dog fur are: Faux fur, Ecological fur, Polyester, Coyote, Rabbit, Canis Latranis, Raccoon and Finni Raccon.
What You Can Do
Always check our ever-expanding list of fur-free retailers and designers before you shop.
Related Links
Q&A on Fur with Overstock.com's Patrick Byrne
Fur-Free Designers and Retailers
Fashion
The Cruel Reality of Fur Production
