Body Central Corp. Announces Merchandising Team Changes
January 07 2014 - 4:01PM
Body Central Corp. (Nasdaq:BODY) today announced changes to their
merchandising organization.
The Company has made several changes to the merchandising and
e-Commerce groups to better align responsibilities. Patti Simigran
has been promoted to Senior Vice President and General Merchandise
Manager from Senior Vice President e-Commerce & Direct
Merchandising. Ms. Simigran will assume merchandising
responsibilities for Body Central Stores in addition to her lead
role over the e-Commerce and Direct Merchandising functions. Ms.
Simigran has been instrumental in updating the Company's website,
developing new customer communication initiatives and expanding the
merchandising assortment of the e-Commerce business. Prior to
joining Body Central, Ms. Simigran held several senior-level
merchandising positions including Chief Merchandising Officer of
Maurice's and Chief Merchandising Officer of Tabi International,
along with additional key merchandising roles at David's Bridal,
Sears Holdings and Land's End.
The Company has also appointed Scott Graner as Vice President
and Merchandise Manager. Mr. Graner comes to Body Central with over
25 years of retail experience and will oversee jewelry,
accessories, shoes, outerwear, intimate apparel and activewear. Mr.
Graner brings a strong blend of both specialty and department store
experience that includes The Limited, Victoria's Secret and Macy's.
Mr. Graner will report directly to Ms. Simigran.
In addition to Ms. Simigran's promotion and the addition of Mr.
Graner, the merchandising team has been further realigned to better
support sales improvement, particularly in key product categories
such as tops and dresses. Several veteran merchandising associates
with track records of strong sales growth in select categories will
assume expanded product category responsibilities.
Separately, the Company announced that Andrea Jackson has left
her position of Senior Vice President and General Merchandise
Manager effective January 6, 2014.
Brian Woolf, Body Central's CEO, stated: "The merchandising team
changes announced today are designed to refocus our efforts on
underperforming categories through both the addition of new talent
and the reallocation of proven internal talent. These changes will
be critical to improving our store merchandising assortments."
About Body Central
Founded in 1972, Body Central Corp. is a growing, multi-channel,
specialty retailer offering on trend, quality apparel and
accessories at value prices. As of December 28, 2013 the Company
operated 294 specialty apparel stores in 28 states under the Body
Central and Body Shop banners, as well as a direct business
comprised of a Body Central catalog and an e-commerce website at
www.bodycentral.com. The Company targets women in their late teens
to early thirties from diverse cultural backgrounds who seek the
latest fashions and a flattering fit. The Company's stores feature
an assortment of tops, dresses, bottoms, jewelry, accessories and
shoes sold primarily under the Company's exclusive Body CentralĀ®
and LipstickĀ® labels.
Safe Harbor Language
Certain statements in this release are "forward-looking
statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as
"guidance," "expects," "intends," "projects," "plans," "believes,"
"estimates," "targets," "anticipates," and similar expressions are
used to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions,
which may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not
guarantees and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in
circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many factors could
cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from these
forward-looking statements. Among these factors are (1) our ability
to identify and respond to new and changing fashion trends,
customer preferences and other related factors; (2) our ability to
execute successfully our growth strategy; (3) changes in consumer
spending and general economic conditions; (4) changes in the
competitive environment in our industry and the markets we serve,
including increased competition from other retailers; (5) our new
stores or existing stores achieving sales and operating levels
consistent with our expectations; (6) our ability to obtain
financing or to generate sufficient cash flow to support
operations; (7) the success of the malls and shopping centers in
which our stores are located; (8) our dependence on a strong brand
image; (9) our direct business growing consistently with our growth
strategy; (10) our information technology systems supporting our
current and growing business, before and after our planned
upgrades; (11) disruptions to our information systems in the
ordinary course or as a result of systems upgrades; (12) our
dependence upon key executive management or our inability to hire
or retain additional personnel; (13) disruptions in our supply
chain and distribution facility; (14) our lease obligations; (15)
our reliance upon independent third-party transportation providers
for all of our product shipments; (16) hurricanes, natural
disasters, unusually adverse weather conditions, boycotts and
unanticipated events; (17) the seasonality of our business; (18)
increases in costs of fuel, or other energy, transportation or
utilities costs and in the costs of labor and employment; (19) the
impact of governmental laws and regulations and the outcomes of
legal proceedings; (20) our maintaining effective internal
controls; and (21) our ability to protect our trademarks or other
intellectual property rights.
CONTACT: Tom Stoltz
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
904-207-6720
tstoltz@bodyc.com