|
|
From May 2008
STORES drew on the wisdom of a handful of retail
luminaries to select the winning concepts
highlighted here. Collectively, these six men
have more than a century of retail experience
and expertise; individually, each has carved a
niche in the annals of U.S. retailing.
|
|
Sponsored by
|
While each of STORES’ judges has a unique
resume, they share one commonality: Every one of
them served as a former chairman of the National
Retail Federation, gaining a broad view of all
things related to retailing. Their multifaceted
vision of contemporary business and keen
understanding of what it takes to succeed in
retailing makes them uniquely qualified to serve
as our judges.
Bernard Brennan, Chairman,
Tomax and eFashionSolutions
Brennan’s career in retail spans more than 30
years, 17 of them as a CEO. He began at Sears,
where he held a variety of positions. He then
moved on to Sav-A-Stop, where he was chairman
and CEO, and Household Merchandising, a
$5 billion retail holding company, where
he was also seated in the corner office.
Brennan is best known for the 11 years
he spent at the helm of Montgomery Ward
Holding Co. Today, |
 |
| he remains engaged in
the retail industry as chairman of eFashionSolutions, a N.J.-based turnkey provider
of web stores, and Salt Lake City-based Tomax,
which offers merchandising and store-execution
applications. |
Farooq Kathwari, Chairman and CEO,
Ethan Allen
Kathwari has transformed Ethan Allen into a
leading vertically integrated interior design
company. The stores — now called design centers
— provide decorating solutions using stylish,
quality products that offer great value.
Kathwari preserves the inspirational and
aspirational quality of the brand while
expanding its reach to a broad base of
customers, keeping prices affordable and
providing flexible financing plans. |
 |
James Oesterreicher, former CEO,
JCPenney
Oesterreicher started with JCPenney as a
management trainee in 1964. He climbed to the
very top of the corporate ladder, eventually
reaching the CEO perch. Since retiring in 2000,
Oesterreicher has served on a number of public,
not-for-profit and charitable boards. He
currently sits on the boards of directors for
Brinker
|
 |
| International and HCC Insurance Holdings. In the
not-for-profit arena, he serves as a director of
Texas Health Resources. |
Allen Questrom, Senior Advisor,
Lee Equity Partners
Questrom’s retail resume is peppered
with some of the most well-known and
well-respected names in retailing:
Federated Department Stores, Barneys New
York and JCPenney. Today, he is a senior
advisor of Lee Equity Partners, a member
of the boards of directors of Sotheby’s
Holdings and Wal-Mart Stores and a
trustee of Boston University (his alma
mater). Questrom is a |
 |
| member of the National
Committee of the Whitney Museum of
American Art in New York and of the
Aspen (Colo.) Art Museum’s National
Council. With Kelli, his wife of 39
years, he spends time in Dallas, New
York and Aspen. |
Gordon Segal, Chairman,
Crate & Barrel
Segal became chairman of Crate & Barrel
on May 1, marking only the second time
the co-founder and CEO of the nationwide
retailer of domestic goods and
furnishings has had to change the title
on his business card. Segal and his wife
Carole started the company in 1962 with
“a lot of taste and little money,”
today, Crate & Barrel has a cult
following. Segal is pulling back from
60-hour work |
 |
| weeks to become more
involved with the Segal Design Institute
at Northwestern University. |
Arnold Zetcher, former Chairman, President and
CEO,
Talbots
Zetcher retired in August 2007 after 20 years as
Talbots president and CEO. He kept his finger on
the pulse as chairman of the board until March
31, but now delights in calling himself a
“civilian.” Still, he continues to be involved
in the industry as chairman of the NRF
Foundation and remains intensely interested in
the industry. Zetcher serves on the board of
Washington |
 |
| University in St. Louis
(his alma mater). Most of his time is
now spent with his wife Ellen in
Southern California, where the two
indulge their passion for thoroughbred
race horses. |
View Related Stories:
Concepts That Clicked
|
| |
