- Bergdorf Goodman
Infobox_Company
company_name = Bergdorf Goodman, Inc.
company_
company_type =Department store
foundation = 1899
location =New York City
industry =Retail
products = Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, and housewares.
homepage = http://bergdorfgoodman.com/Bergdorf Goodman is a major, world-renowned luxury goods
department store based inMidtown, Manhattan inNew York City . It is owned byNeiman Marcus .History
Beginnings
The company began in 1899 when Herman Bergdorf, an immigrant from
Alsace , opened a tailor shop just above Union Square indowntown Manhattan .Edwin Goodman , an employee of Bergdorf's, purchased the store then located in the "Ladies' Mile" in 1906, and moved to the present location onFifth Avenue . In 1914, Goodman became the first couturier to introduceready-to-wear , making Bergdorf Goodman a destination for American and French fashion. The store moved to its present location at 5th Avenue and 58th Street in 1928, building itsArt Deco store on the site of the William K. Vanderbilt mansion. With Goodman's son, Andrew, as president, the store opened a fur salon, developed the successful Bergdorf Goodman Number Nine perfume, and created Miss Bergdorf, a ready-to-wear line for younger customers. Edwin Goodman retired from the company in 1953.1960-1990
The department store went through a major slump from the early 1960s to the late 1970s and even tried building branch locations, although only one was constructed, in nearby
White Plains, New York in 1972. This location was eventually converted to aNeiman Marcus branch store in 1981. To combat its image difficulties, the company hiredDawn Mello in 1975 asvice president of fashion. She was successful in reinvigorating the conservative store and became president in 1984. She left her post in 1989 to work for the floundering Italian fashion houseGucci , though she returned to her post aspresident in 1994.1990-Present
Chairman andCEO Ira Neimark expanded the women's store three times in the 1990s. The men's store was moved across the street to the oldFAO Schwarz space at 745 Fifth Avenue in 1990. This move made it possible to make more space available for women's fashions. In 1997, the penthouse apartment on the building's ninth floor (formerly the Goodman family residence) was converted into the John Barrett Salon and Susan Ciminelli Day Spa. In 1999, the Beauty Level opened directly below the main floor, offering a luxury spa and Goodman's Café, serving lunch and afternoon tea. In 2002, Bergdorf Goodman underwent a major renovation, during which artisans and craftspeople began a dramatic restoration of the main floor of the women's store. In 2003, the store introduced new boutiques forChanel ,Giorgio Armani ,Gucci , and Yves Saint Laurent. Bergdorf's competition includes otherhigh-end retailers such asBarneys New York ,Saks Fifth Avenue , and ownerNeiman Marcus External links
* [http://bergdorfgoodman.com/ Bergdorf Goodman website]
* [http://www.jawnastandish.com Jawna Standish Official Site]
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