Publications - WWD.com

WWD 05/13/2005

Saks Fifth Avenue Fallout: Eight Merchants Said to Be Ousted

Saks Fifth Avenue may have let go several merchants because of the Saks Inc. inquiry into improper vendor collections and related accounting issues.

Saks Fifth Avenue Fallout: Eight Merchants Said to Be Ousted

Saks Fifth Avenue may have let go several merchants because of the Saks Inc. inquiry into improper vendor collections and related accounting issues.

— May 13, 2005

Bulgari Earnings Up 9.1%

MILAN - Double-digit sales growth in the U.S. and Japan propelled Bulgari in the first quarter, but higher advertising expenditures and rising costs bit into operating margins.

First-quarter net profit rose 9.1 percent to 14.7 million...

— May 13, 2005

CAFTA Contingent Mulls Bush Plan

Latin American leaders said at the White House that they weren't sold on the administration's proposed modifications to CAFTA.

— May 13, 2005

In Brief: Alpine Results ... Outdoor Buy

ALPINE RESULTS: Rossignol SA, the French ski firm, reported Thursday that its sales for the fourth-quarter ended March 31 were up 0.7 percent at 83.2 million euros, or $109.2 million, from 82.6 million euros, or $102.6 million,...

— May 13, 2005

LVMH Back on the Buying Trail

After several years of focusing on organic growth, LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault said Thursday that buying brands was on his midterm agenda.

— May 13, 2005

Quote of the Week

"By virtue of becoming a part of groups like Prada, Gucci and [LVMH], these smaller brands stayed alive. If these groups weren't there to sustain them, they would have disappeared."

- Patrizio Bertelli, chief executive officer,...

— May 13, 2005

Suzy

Former first lady Nancy Reagan, dressed in Oscar de la Renta, returned to Washington for a dinner for 600 admirers at the Ronald Reagan building.

— May 13, 2005

Calvin's Ode to Joy

NEW YORK - Calvin Klein Cosmetics is betting on its first major new brand introduction in three years to add a little juice to its fragrance franchise.

Euphoria Calvin Klein, a women's scent that the company calls an "addictive Oriental,"...

— May 13, 2005

Hylexin Gets Specific To Solve Eye Problems

NEW YORK - The company that introduced stretch cream-turned-cult antiaging product StriVectin-SD is back - with an even more specific problem-solving product, dubbed Hylexin.

The $95 eye cream, which had a limited launch in...

— May 13, 2005

Limited Brands Acquires Slatkin & Co.

The Bath & Body Works train continued to pick up speed Thursday with parent Limited Brands' acquisition of Slatkin & Co.

— May 13, 2005

Badgley Mischka in Deal With Riviera Concepts

NEW YORK - Mark Badgley and James Mischka are proving that they have serious designs on the fragrance game.

Candie's Inc., which purchased the duo's label from Escada USA last November, told WWD on Thursday that it has entered into a...

— May 13, 2005

BBW Honored at Scholarship Fete

NEW YORK - Marc Rosen notched his "sweet sixteenth" Pratt Institute-Luxe Pack scholarship gala by raising a record $350,000 for the school's graduate design program.

"Now I can get my driver's license," he remarked during the black-tie...

— May 13, 2005

Dove Moves Deeper Into Skin Care

NEW YORK - Body lotions are morphing into a 24-hour business, with players such as Olay, Curel and Jergens touting formulas that keep skin moisturized the entire day. Dove has entered the category with a line of long-lasting lotions of its own...

— May 13, 2005

Biore Targets Unwanted Shine

NEW YORK - Having conquered "the pore," Biore has set its sights on ridding faces of shine and oil. Citing category research from Biore's parent company, Kao Brands Co., Maria Mancabelli, Biore brand manager, declared, "Shine control is the...

— May 13, 2005

Top Notes: Beauty Scoop ... Brown To Avon ... Milk and Mac ...

BEAUTY SCOOP: Fashionista favorite Scoop is breaking into the realm of beauty. The upscale boutique will launch a beauty concept "toward the end of the year," to coincide with the opening of the retailer's first "super store" in...

— May 13, 2005

Critical Mass: Styli-Style Goes After Nothing but the Best

NEW YORK - Grant Berry, creator of Styli-Style, invented so many long-wearing makeup products he had to find a way for women to take them off.

While working on Styli-Style, which has become synonymous with durable formulations, Berry often...

— May 13, 2005

Men's Corner: Wrangler Rustling Up a Fragrance

NEW YORK - Wrangler Apparel Corp., known for its iconic, namesake denim brand, will launch its first fragrance this summer.

A signature men's scent, Wrangler cologne is expected to be the first of several Wrangler fragrances thanks to a...

— May 13, 2005

Nexxus Could Make a Good Mass Fit

NEW YORK - There are big plans for Nexxus Products, the Santa Barbara, Calif.-based professional hair care company Alberto-Culver signed an agreement to purchase this week.

Nexxus, according to Alberto-Culver chief executive officer,...

— May 13, 2005

Fekkai Spurs Pillow Talk

NEW YORK - Frederic Fekkai is working the night shift.

No, not literally, but the uberhairstylist is now launching a product designed to treat dry, damaged hair while catching some sleep.

Overnight Hair Repair, which will be...

— May 13, 2005

Sunsilk Uses Green Monsters To Shake Up Shampoo TV Ads

PARIS - In an industry full of shampoo ads featuring beautiful women with voluminous, shiny locks, Sunsilk's latest campaign comes as a bit of a shock: It's not every day that consumers are exposed to a hideous, green-tongued gremlin spitting up...

— May 13, 2005

Nanotech Is the Buzzword

NEW YORK - The future of beauty continues to rely on technology.

Attendees of the Personal Care Ingredients and Technology Exposition Advanced Technical Conference, held at the Park Central Hotel April 26-27, got a look at the latest...

— May 13, 2005

Memo Pad: Gilles Just Wants To Have Fun ... Bekkedahl To G+J ... The Cartoon Network ...

GILLES JUST WANTS TO HAVE FUN: Apparently, Gilles Bensimon knows the value of quitting when you're ahead. As he prepares to be honored by the fashion industry, and with Elle enjoying a resurgence in both advertising...

— May 13, 2005

Quiet Cannes

CANNES - Lost or late luggage can be a real drag - unless your name is Salma Hayek and your destination is Cannes to sit on the jury of the film festival here. Louis Vuitton, Fendi and others - who have hotel suites bulging with...

— May 13, 2005

Versace Adds Key U.S. Exec

NEW YORK - The Versace Group is strengthening its U.S. team. Effective Monday, Patrick Guadagno will join the company's U.S. subsidiary as president and chief operating officer of the wholesale division, a new post.

Guadagno comes from...

— May 13, 2005

Specialty Store Profits Jump in First Quarter

American Eagle Outfitters doubled its quarterly profit, Urban Outfitters had a 62.7 percent net earnings gain and PacSun saw a 17.6 percent profit hike.

— May 13, 2005

Wal-Mart Set Back, Target Scores

Wal-Mart Stores missed Wall Street's first-quarter estimates by a penny on Thursday, and Target Corp. beat quarterly expectations by 2 cents.

— May 13, 2005

Apparel, Accessories Sales Rise 2.8% in April

Sales at apparel and accessories stores increased to $16.7 billion in April, a 2.8 percent monthly rise led by an improved employment picture.

— May 13, 2005

Sy Stewart, Executive, Retail Mentor

NEW YORK - Sy Stewart, a legend in the lamp industry and a friend and mentor to many retailers, died of lung cancer on Wednesday at his home in Manhasset, N.Y. He was 79.

Stewart was the founder of the Alsy+Cycle II lamp company, which,...

— May 13, 2005

Bendel's CEO Exits Firm

NEW YORK - Henri Bendel's chief executive officer, Michael McCadden, is leaving the company today.

"Michael made the decision to leave the business," said a spokesman for Limited Brands, which owns Bendel's. "The management team now in...

— May 13, 2005

Russell Outlines Growth Plan

NEW YORK - Russell Corp. is ambitious about pumping up its business.

The Atlanta-based activewear firm said in a conference call with analysts Thursday that it wants to grow the Spalding label into a megabrand and expand the company's...

— May 13, 2005