From lavish events attended by high-profile personalities such as Princess Diana, Margaret Thatcher, Jacqueline Onassis, and Yves Saint Laurent to the latest creative ventures of Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Michael Kors and Donald Trump, Ira Neimark, the legendary leader of fashion luxury retail, recounts how he and his talented fashion and merchandising team brought Bergdorf Goodman to its leadership position— an approach, he shows, that continues to inform the most successful designers and business leaders today. While his personal anecdotes focus on how and why Bergdorf helped build the fashion industry during one of the most exciting periods in its history— the late sixties through the early nineties— the author also shares his views on how contemporary retailers have increased profits by skimping on service, resulting in the loss of customer loyalty. The Rise of Fashion and Lessons Learned at Bergdorf Goodman is a valuable resource for anyone who aspires to succeed in the business of luxury fashion.
"Lessons Learned" segments that speak to current challenges in the retail business
More than 150 photos of the designers, fashion shows, and parties that catapulted Bergdorf Goodman to the top of the luxury fashion retail industry
Fashion stories from publications such as Women's Wear Daily and The New York Times that demonstrate the importance of successful media partnerships
Tips and reflections from a legendary business leader that raise possibilities for better business practices — today and into the future
Part I: The Rise of Fashion
Part II: The Business of Fashion
Part III: The Fall of Service
Part IV: Retail Common Sense
Part V: Lessons Learned from My Career
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Ira Neimark
is a legendary retail executive whose career spans several decades. As Chairman and CEO of Bergdorf Goodman he set records for the company over 17 years of his masterful leadership. During his tenure, he opened the largest luxury Men's Store on Fifth Avenue. He also distinguished himself in top management/merchandising posts at Neiman Marcus Group, B. Altman, G. Fox, Gladdings, and Bonwit Teller. Neimark is director of Hermès of Paris and director emeritus of The Fashion Institute of Technology Foundation. He served as Adjunct Professor of Retail Marketing at the Columbia University Business School. The governments of Italy and France awarded him the prestigious Cavaliere Della Republica and the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters, respectively, as well as the Medal of the City of Paris.