Industry Eye: People on the Move, Catalogers’ Updates
Catalogers’ Updates
Acquisitions
Multichannel apparel and home products merchant Appleseed’s, a portfolio company of private equity firm Golden Gate capital, acquired in January apparel and home goods cataloger Blair Corp. The deal, expected to close later this spring, is valued at $173.6 million.
Musician’s Friend catalog, a subsidiary of Guitar Center, in February acquired multititle musical instrument merchant The Woodwind and Brasswind. The $29.9 million transaction has been approved following a stalled purchase attempt in November.
Finance
Private equity firm Parallel Investment Part-ners in January completed the recapitalization of multichannel outdoor apparel and equipment merchant Moosejaw Mountaineering and Backcountry Travel. Furthermore …
Multititle general merchandise cataloger Miles Kimball Co. will close its Las Vegas-based contact center this month and move more than 100 jobs to its Oshkosh, Wis., facility.
People on the Move
Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc.: CEO Fabian Mansson resigned from the company on Feb. 9, the day after shareholders rejected a $286 million takeover by two private equity firms, Sun Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital. Bauer board member Howard Gross, who was the former CEO of Limited Stores and Victoria’s Secret Stores, was named interim CEO. Mansson, who was at the helm during Bauer’s 2005 recovery from Chapter 11 as a unit of the bankrupt Spiegel Inc., headed up the Bauer unit for more than four years.
Blair Corp.: Adelmo Lopez has been promoted to president and CEO of this multichannel apparel and home goods merchant. He previously served as EVP, COO and CFO. He replaces retiring President and CEO John Zawacki, who will serve as vice chairman of the board of directors until April.
Charming Shoppes: Joseph Baron has been appointed interim president of this multibranded, multichannel apparel merchant’s Crosstown Traders business. He replaces Steven Lightman. The appointment is in addition to his responsibilities as EVP and COO of Charming Shoppes. Baron joined Charming Shoppes in 2002 following a 30-year career at Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Lillian Vernon: Chris Anderson has been hired as EVP, operations for this general merchandise cataloger. He previously served as GM, engineering, quality and processing for the Private Label Division of Best Buy. He’s also held positions at Dell and IBM.
Susan Hardie has joined the company as divisional merchandise manager for the Lilly’s Kids catalog. She previously served as director of merchandising for The Children’s Group, the division of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM that runs The Magic Cabin and Hearthsong catalogs.
