|
Lord & Taylor Announces New Creative Partners
NEW YORK, Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Jane Elfers, President and CEO of Lord & Taylor, announced today several partnerships which will be instrumental in the continued repositioning of the iconic Lord & Taylor brand. Joining forces with Lord & Taylor will be David Lipman, Y&R's BrandBuzz, Randall Ridless and Mancini Duffy. Lord & Taylor was recently purchased from Federated Department Stores by NRDC Equity Partners LLC (NRDC).
Jane Elfers said, "These prestigious and celebrated creative teams represent some of the most innovative minds in the creative design and marketing communities today. Bringing these teams on board is the first of many steps we plan to take in order to continue to energize and refine Lord & Taylor."
Richard Baker, President and CEO, NRDC, added, "NRDC is moving swiftly to meet the challenging and exciting goals we have set for Lord & Taylor. Lord & Taylor, America's oldest department store and a New York institution, is poised for an extraordinarily bright future. In the coming months more exciting plans will be unveiled that will continue to elevate this legendary brand."
David Lipman has joined as a creative consultant and will collaborate with the other creative partners. Lipman has been instrumental in the creative rebranding of many world-renowned iconic brands. He said, "I am so excited to be part of this newly formed team - bringing the heritage of Lord & Taylor to the forefront is such an amazing opportunity."
Y&R's BrandBuzz has been awarded a key role in Lord & Taylor's relaunch and will continue to combine research with brand strategy as they develop and execute a creative platform for the Fall/Holiday 2007 campaign. Hamish McLennan, Global CEO, Y&R, said, "This is a wonderful opportunity for BrandBuzz. Lord & Taylor is a beloved brand, and the team looks forward to positioning it for the future."
The redesign of the stores' interiors will be orchestrated by Randall Ridless. Ridless, renowned for his residential and commercial interiors, designed Burberry's stores worldwide, and has also redesigned Bergdorf Goodman, Holt Renfrew, and Van Cleef & Arpels, among others. Prior to establishing his business, Ridless was VP, Store Planning and Interior Design for Saks Fifth Avenue. Ridless said, "I have always admired Lord & Taylor's stature as one of the original American specialty retailers and am honored to have been selected to help transform the stores in a manner that reflects and respects its history."
Mancini Duffy - the architectural and design firm - will help execute the Lord & Taylor redesign. The firm's retail group, headed by principal Evangelo Dascal, creative director Edward Calabrese, and Lisa Contreras, has a portfolio of premier retail projects: Ian Schrager Hotels, Calvin Klein, Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bliss, and Bergdorf Goodman. Dascal said, "Mancini Duffy is extremely pleased to contribute our experience to the rebirth of Lord & Taylor."
NRDC Equity Partners, LLC is a joint venture between Robert C. Baker and Richard A. Baker, Principals of National Realty & Development Corp., and William Mack and Lee Neibart, Partners of Apollo Real Estate Advisors, L.P. The Principals of NRDC Equity Partners have completed transactions in excess of $50 billion. NRDC Equity Partners acquires operating companies in the retail, leisure, lodging and commercial real estate sectors. In February 2006, NRDC closed on its acquisition of Linens 'N Things, which was purchased with Apollo Management. Its most recent transaction was the acquisition of Lord & Taylor from Federated Department Stores Co.
Founded in 1826, Lord & Taylor is the oldest American specialty retailer in the United States, operating 47 stores in 9 states and the District of Columbia, with a legendary flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City.
Source: Lord & Taylor
CONTACT: Lavelle Olexa, , for Lord & Taylor
Website: www.manciniduffy.com
|
