NEW YORK–Bloomingdale’s today tapped Tony Spring, an executive who came up through the home ranks, to be president.
In his new role, Spring said he is looking forward to stoking Bloomingdale’s fashionable edge in home furnishings. He will oversee the division's stores, marketing, creative services, finance, operations and restaurants. His appointment comes as the upscale division of Macy’s beefs up its senior ranks and eyes accelerated expansion.
Since 2005, Spring has served as Bloomingdale’s senior executive vice president and director of stores.
In home, “We’ll continue to look for ways to distinguish Bloomingdale’s assortment, presentation and service while we grow the business,” Spring said.
“We’ll leverage Bloomingdale’s unique position in the marketplace and [cultivate] an upscale, modern environment, with an edited, but healthy selection of product.”
Asked why a disproportionate number of chief executive officers and presidents cut their teeth in home furnishings, Spring said there is an “appreciation for the importance of marketing, merchandising, presentation and people.”
And beyond product development, “The home business requires the skill set to manage each component and drive retail.”
Citing its commitment to the home business, Spring said Bloomingdale’s is renovating the retailer’s furniture, rug and mattress department in its 59th Street flagship store in Manhattan to be “updated, transitional and modern.” Bloomingdale’s has been expanding its mix of modern goods of late, which have been a bright spot at the chain. The revamp of the departments should be completed by the fourth quarter.
Bloomingdale’s will spread its home wings with its first store in Arizona in fall 2009, Spring said.
During a recent conference call, Karen Hoguet, Macy’s chief financial officer, singled out the 40-unit chain for “aggressive” growth.
The president’s post has been vacant at Bloomingdale’s since Edwin Holman, currently CEO of Macy’s South, left the retailer in 2004.
Spring, 43, joined Bloomingdale’s in 1987. He subsequently held a variety of positions in the home area, including vice president of home furnishings.
He will continue to report to Michael Gould, chairman and CEO of Bloomingdale’s.
The retailer also named Frank Doroff vice chairman over Bloomingdale’s Direct and ready-to-wear.