RETAILING
New VP for Arden B
Tamara Chamberlain started her new job, leading Wet Seal Inc.’s long-suffering Arden B division, on April 15.
Chamberlain’s new title will be vice president, general merchandise manager for Arden B. She previously worked as the general merchandise manager for contemporary mall retailer Bebe Stores Inc. since October 2012 and also worked as divisional merchandise manager for Bebe since February 2011, according to Chamberlain’s LinkedIn entry.
Chamberlain replaced Sharon Hughes, who worked as president and chief merchandise officer for Arden B since November 2009, according to media reports. Hughes resigned to pursue other opportunities, a Wet Seal statement said.
Sales have been tough for Arden B. For the fourth quarter of 2012, its same-store sales declined 9.9 percent compared with the previous year.
Also during the fourth quarter of 2012, 19 Arden B shops were shuttered. During a March 21 conference call with Wall Street analysts, John Goodman, Wet Seal Inc.’s chief executive officer, said that the company will close nine Arden B shops this year. Arden B runs a fleet of 62 shops.
However, Goodman said the future is looking brighter for the contemporary division. “We are thrilled to have [Chamberlain] on board and believe her expertise, coupled with Arden B’s seasoned buying team, will enable us to restore sales growth, capture greater market share and build a more sustainable model for long-term success,” Goodman said in a statement.
