Off-Price Jeans Distributor Adds Executives
Jessica’s, the Southern California company that sells off-price premium blue jeans and other goods to retailers such as Marshalls and Costco, has hired two new executives to expand its business.
Joining Jessica’s in its New York office is Mary Lee Gallagher, who was named senior vice president. Also coming on board is Scott Rodner, who has been named senior vice president.Both will help the company’s clients grow their revenues by licensing special product runs, distributing in various off-price channels and expanding the company into new areas.
Gallagher was most recently president of special sales at Liz Claiborne Inc., now called Fifth & Pacific Companies Inc. She has more than 30 years of experience in building off-price businesses for brands such as DKNY jeans, Lucky Brand and Juicy Couture.
Rodner worked for 16 years as a senior buyer for apparel and footwear at TJX, the parent company of T.J Maxx, Marshalls and Home Goods. He will lead the company’s expansion into footwear and men’s apparel through his various vendor relationships.“Our leadership team, including Robin Picard and Michele Feher, and I are delighted to welcome Mary Lee Gallagher and Scott Rodner to Jessica’s,” said Richard Koral, the company’s chief executive, who founded the Vernon, Calif.–based company in 1980. “They both bring decades of valuable experience that will help us better serve our brand partners in new categories, like stores and accessories, and accelerate our international and East Coast business.”
Koral has worked in the off-price field for decades. He comes from an apparel-based family. His brother, Peter, was one of the founders in 2000 of premium-denim line7 For All Mankind, which was sold to VF Corp. in 2007 for $775 million.
Richard Koral’s father, Saul, was the owner of Hana Sportswear, a sewing contractor at 933 Wall St. in downtown Los Angeles. Saul Koral passed away two years ago.
Last year, Jessica’s landed an investment from Relativity Capital L.P. and an additional investment from Riveria Investment Group. Neither investment amount was disclosed.The investment was to expand the company’s growth into new categories.
—D.B.
