Apparel Online Bangladesh Magazine Magazine April 2018 | Page 47

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VF Corporation appoints Velia Carboni as
its Chief Digital Officer
US-based VF Corporation, a global
leader in branded lifestyle apparel,
footwear and accessories, has
announced the appointment of its first
Chief Digital Officer. The newly appointed Chief Digital
Officer, who will serve in the
company’s Senior Leadership Team,
will work under VF’s Chairman,
President and CEO Steve Rendle. with expanded investments in our
digital platform to innovate, build
strategic partnerships and win in
a very competitive apparel and
footwear market,” added Rendle.
The company, which owns brands
such as The North Face, Timberland,
Vans, Wrangler and Lee, has tapped
Velia Carboni, an expert in exploring
the untapped opportunities in the
latest innovations, to intensify its
digital operations. She will be based
at VF’s world headquarters in
Greensboro, North Carolina. According to Rendle, Velia will also
be responsible for the execution
of the company’s digital strategy
to strengthen growth and help its
brands offer smooth and hassle-free
experience to its customers. Markedly, online apparel sales
has increased in the recent
years. Consumers are now more
comfortable in making wardrobe
purchases from the comfort of their
homes…
Carboni, who is stepping into this
new role at VF, feels that it is a
unique opportunity to serve a brand
which boasts of over 20 global iconic
brands. Various apparel brands across the
globe have now started shifting their
focus to ‘digital’ as consumers have
now become more inclined towards
e-commerce. They are investing in
developing a social media image,
renovating stores by deploying VR
technology, kiosks, etc.
Carboni was previously associated
with Fidelity Investments for more
than 25 years. In her new role, she will
be responsible for the incorporation of The newly appointed Chief Digital
Officer is committed to offering
superlative digital competencies into
VF’s retail business.
new, innovative online shopping
experiences as digital at VF will be
a powerful business, growth and
consumer-satisfaction tool in the
time to come. “VF is planning to
utilise her talent and experience
Urban Outfitters Q4 sales climb 5.7% to
US $ 1.09 billion
Urban Outfitters Inc., a portfolio
of global consumer fashion brands
comprising of Anthropologie,
Bhldn, Free People, Terrain,
Urban Outfitters and Vetri Family,
has announced the financial
results for the fourth quarter and
fiscal ended January 31, 2018. Anthropologie Group and Urban
Outfitters brands respectively
during the quarter under review.
In FY 2017, the company opened a
total of 18 new locations including
8 Free People stores, 5 Urban
Outfitters stores, 4 Anthropologie
Group stores.
The fashion company reported net
income worth US $ 1 million and
US $ 108 million for the quarter
and full year 2017. Adjusted net
income for the reporting quarter
stood at US $ 75 million. Total
company net sales marked an
increase of 5.7 per cent to US
$ 1.09 billion in the reporting
quarter as compared to the same
period last year. Brand-wise, the
company reported an 8 per cent,
5 per cent and 2 per cent increase
in net sales for Free People, During the fiscal under review,
Urban Outfitters reported a 2 per
cent overall increase in net sales
to US $ 3.6 billion. Its comparable
retail segment net sales, however,
remained flat; though it reported a
9.5 per cent increase in wholesale
segment net sales in the year
under review. “Positive comps
at all three brands helped the
company to report a positive
fourth quarter,” said Richard A.
Hayne, Chief Executive Officer
in the statement issued by the
company. The fashion retailer
is optimistic about first half of
the year as it is noticing positive
reactions from customers about
new spring fashion offerings. For
the first time, Urban reported a
more than 40 per cent increase in
online retail segment sales due to
digital penetration. In view of the
increasing growth rate, the brand
has even improved its website to
offer a better shopping experience,
improved delivery options, in-store
pick-up capabilities and a more
responsive site with faster load
time.
The company now expects to
continue this growth momentum
in the future as well.
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