Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> October 6, 1999
MARLA SCHAEFER is the co-CEO and co-Chairman of the Board of Claire's
Stores, Inc., the leading international specialty retailer offering
value-priced costume jewelry and accessories to fashion-aware tweens,
teens and young adults through its two store concepts: Claire's (North
America and Europe) and Icing by Claire's. Ms. Schaefer has over three
decades of retailing experience. In 1968, Ms. Schaefer accepted an
entry-level position at Fashion Tress Industries, a family owned
business that was the world's largest importer of wigs. She then served
as Director of Training, Southwestern Region, at Harry Camp Company, a
family-owned business that operated wig salons within major department
stores. Between 1976 and 1980, Ms. Schaefer worked with a direct
importer of games from Japan, established and ran a small accessory
business and was responsible for showroom operations and sales in
another family-owned business engaged in manufacturing, importing and
selling designer handbags and luggage. In 1981, Ms. Schaefer joined
Claire's Stores, Inc., as Executive Assistant to Rowland Schaefer, who
was then serving as Chairman and CEO. Over time, Ms. Schaefer assumed
increasing responsibility for the company's operations and in 1990 she
was named Vice President of Fashion Merchandising of Claire's Boutiques,
Inc., and joined the Board of Directors of Claire's Stores, Inc., In
1998, she was promoted to the position of Senior Vice President of
Claire's Boutiques, Inc., and ultimately to the position of Vice
Chairman of that organization. Key accomplishments include her
establishment of a New York City-based buying office to capitalize on
the concentration of fashion vendors in that city and the development of
Claire's import program. Today, those imports account for over 80% of
the merchandise sold by the company and provide Claire's with one of the
highest margins in the specialty retail industry. Ms. Schaefer also
spearheaded the development of the Claire's Kids department, a highly
profitable department within Claire's Stores. Ms. Schaefer continues to
serve as a key corporate spokesperson within the investment community.
In 1998, Ms. Schaefer was named Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
of Claire's Stores, Inc. From November 2002 to November 2003, she served
as Acting co-Chairman of the Board and Acting co-Chief Executive
Officer. She recently joined the Board of Directors of Claire's Nippon,
Co., Ltd., a joint venture operating Claire's accessory boutiques in
Japan. Profile
history, customers, products, services, activities, those kinds of
things.
Ms. Schaefer: Claire's has been around for a long
