BOLD MOVES AT BARNEYS

BARNEYS NEW YORK - NEW YORK Times they are-a-changing at BARNEYS NEW YORK!  New CEO Mark Lee has hit the ground running as he begins his new leadership role at the uber cool department store.   Lee, known for his global contributions to Gucci during and after the Tom Ford MARK LEE - CEO BARNEYS NEW YORKera has already made major changes to the management of Barneys.  

Mr. Lee has hired Daniella Vitale with whom he worked at Gucci as the new Chief Merchant and EVP -responsible for all of Women's and Barneys.com.   Vitale was at Gucci for over a decade and last served as President of the Americas.     It is interesting to see Lee and Vitale move to a multi-vendor environment after spending formative time at Gucci, a single brand with one cohesive strategy and mission.  

DENNIS FREEDMAN - C.D. - BARNEYS NYIn addition, Lee has brought in Dennis Freedman as Creative Director for Barneys New York.  Freedman was the former Creative Director of W Magazine for almost twenty years.  The move bumped Barneys veteran and iconic figure Simon Doonan to an "At Large" title.   Also an interesting move when you consider the fact that Freedman is a man known for his talent in the artistic presentation and vision of fashion, but not as a merchant.   While  Mr. Freedman is widely respected and celebrated for his creative skills at W, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who would describe him as a man focused on sales.  Any reader of W Magazine during his tenure could attest to that. SIMON DOONAN - "AT LARGE" -BARNEYS NY Simon Doonan on the other hand, is just one of those unique characters that can whip up media attention through celebrity affiliations, over the top window presentations, and just his witty joie de vivre.  Doonan can keep you laughing while never losing focus on the goal of ringing that register.  While Simon can be a little too kitschy and pitchy for some, no one can argue that he is a guy that is not afraid to get on the sales floor and schmooze those ladies into buying that bag, dress, or latest platform shoe from the Paris runway!

BARNEYS NEW YORK - BEVERLY HILLS FLAGSHIPRinging the register is exactly what the store needs to do to make it possible for their Dubai based owners, Istithmar World, to turn a profit on the $942 Million it paid for Barneys in 2007.   With 9 flagship stores from coast to coast, the chain needs to go toe to toe with Neimans, Saks, and sometimes Nordstrom depending the city to flourish in the current retail environment.  It will be interesting to see the new team lead the way with good taste and style at the same time the powers that be are counting every coin.  

I'll be there to watch and shop as I travel around the country this Spring!  BARNEYS is always on my hit list as I travel around from city to city.   Hope to see you in a Barneys store soon! Click BARNEYS NEW YORK to find the store nearest you.