Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Issue link: https://sct.epubxp.com/i/122387
retail side at New York City–based Omega Fashions, where she launched and headed a chain of wholesale-retail accessories stores. "I loved the retail business, and I got to do everything: finding locations, buying products, hiring and training the teams, and writing policy procedures," she said. In the early 1990s Cohen joined Gap Inc., which she remembers as a fine training ground and where she first became interested in real estate. The real estate "I loved the retail business, and I got to do everything: finding locations, buying products, hiring and training the teams, and writing policy procedures." division was staffed by lots of veterans and there was little turnover, however, so Cohen had to wait five years for an opening. In 1994 Gap Inc. launched Old Navy, and Cohen became a leasing associate. She oversaw the New England territory and then opened the New York City office, where she was senior director of real estate. "She's a deal maker," said George Blankenship, a former colleague of Cohen's at Gap and now vice president of sales and ownership experience for Tesla Motors. "A lot of real estate professionals focus on things that really don't matter, but Holly is very fair." Cohen moved to Miami with her husband in 2004 and joined J.Crew, which was enduring a rough patch 284 SC T / m a y 2 0 1 3 at that time: Landlords were closing down J.Crew stores, and the company went through five CEOs in only six years. CEO Millard S. Drexler hired Cohen as vice president of real estate, planning and construction, and she was promoted to senior vice president three years later. "We were a band of senior team members with a new mission to create a turnaround story and help take the company public," she said. "It had a great brand reputation but was facing some tough times." Cohen established the company's Madewell division and rolled out new store designs. On the international front, she oversaw the opening of the company's first Canada store and secured the site for the store in London, scheduled to open later this year. Cohen also did the groundwork for the company's expansion in Asia. "The growth and process was fantastic," she said. "We doubled the size of the retail fleet and eventually ended up taking the company public." By 2010 the company was doing well and decided to go private again. At the same time, Cohen felt it was time to try new things. She says she is excited about the opportunity to reinvent Claire's with new growth strategies. Like J.Crew, Claire's is a mature concept with a loyal following but in need of a transformation. Also like J.Crew, privately held Claire's has designs on going public. Samestore sales for Claire's fiscal fourth quarter (ended February) grew 5.4 percent, while gross profit rose to 54.5 percent from 52.7 percent for the year-ago quarter. "The company has had positive news and we are here to continue on that path by getting stores updated and transforming the brand," Cohen said. "We want to build a team to grow the brand globally and be seen as a global player." SCT ICSC honors globe's top researchers ICSC announced the 2013 recipients of its prestigious Researcher Award for Outstanding Service. The recipients of this year's awards are John H. Haake, Ph.D., vice president, Ed Smith & Associates, Troy, Mich.; Herman J. Kircher, president, Kircher Research Associates Ltd., Toronto, Ontario; RalfPeter Koschny, CRE, FRICS, member of the directory board, BulwienGesa AG, Hamburg, Germany; Juan Ignacio Rodríguez Barrera, planning director, MAC Arquitectos Consultores, Mexico City, Mexico; Shane Taylor, director, head of research and strategy, Asia-Pacific, CBRE, Hong Kong; and Robert M. White Jr., founder and president, Real Capital Analytics Inc., New York City. "The six winners in 2013 span the globe and join a select group of industry researchers who have made a difference to ICSC and the shopping-center industry," said Michael P. Niemira, ICSC vice president of research. "Each of these individuals exemplify some of the best qualities of ICSC members — the sharing of their time and talents for the betterment of the industry. A hearty congratulations to all," he added. ICSC established the Researcher Award in 2007 to recognize industry professionals who have demonstrated a significant commitment and contribution to ICSC's research programs. This would include, but not be limited to, writing, planning, speaking at ICSC Research events, advising and having an instrumental role in fostering industry benchmarking through data sharing. Any member can nominate an individual for this award; nominations are reviewed by the committee chairs and vice chairs of ICSC's five research advisory groups. From that pool of nominees, the research chairs and vice chairs select the winners. — MB