NEW YORK — Henri Bendel is restructuring its fashion office and building a team of buyers.
Marta Nowakowski joined the specialty retailer as a fashion buyer for handbags and small leather goods, a new post. She had been a buyer for nonapparel goods, including jewelry, shoes and handbags at Mitchells of Westport and Richards in Greenwich, both in Connecticut. In 2003, Nowakowski was the senior buyer for jewelry and watches at Bergdorf Goodman, where she spent six years.
At Bendel’s, Nowakowski will be in charge of the buying and business planning in the handbag, belt and small leather goods areas. Handbags and jewelry previously were handled by Ariane Burckhard, who will focus exclusively on buying jewelry, while belts, cold-weather gear and sunglasses were purchased by Diana Yasnis, who will continue to handle the cold-weather and sunglasses areas.
The retailer also tapped Andrea Braun as buyer for knitwear and apparel. Braun will be in charge of the purchasing and business planning for the knitwear and intimate apparel categories. Before that, Braun worked at Lord & Taylor, which she joined as assistant buyer in 1998. She was promoted to buyer in 2000 and oversaw areas such as junior sportswear, contemporary sportswear and premium denim, as well as, most recently, fashion accessories. She replaced Sharon Pape, product development manager for Henri Bendel-branded knitwear, and Meira Lavin, lingerie assistant buyer, who recently have left to pursue other interests.
Nowakowski and Braun will report to Ed Bucciarelli, Bendel’s president and chief executive officer, until the retailer hires an executive for the newly created position of general merchandise manager for fashion and accessories. Bendel’s also wants to replace fashion director Scott Tepper, who left in the fall.
“We are aggressively going after the accessories business and growing our staff with the creation of a new position for all leather goods,” Bucciarelli said. “Marta’s strong background and years of experience in the luxury market make her an excellent addition to the Bendel’s fashion team.”
In addition, Carla Dunham joined the specialty store as buyer in charge of Henri Bendel-branded candles and fragrances, as well as seasonal merchandise. Most recently, she was a buyer of accessories in the men’s division at Target Corp., which she joined in 2004. At Bendel’s, she is taking over some of the responsibilities once held by merchandise manager for cosmetics Laura Saio, who left in the fall. The company is tapping two more cosmetics buyers in color cosmetics, and skin care and fragrance. Dunham reports to Claudia Lucas, senior vice president and gmm for cosmetics.
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Bucciarelli said these newly created roles “will position [Henri Bendel] for growth.”