GEORGE CONCESSION STAND BACK REJOINS WWD STEPHANIE GEORGE TO HAS BEEN NAMED VICE CHAIRMAN OF BERLIN FAIRCHILD FASHION DIANE VON FURSTENBERG AND JOEL MEDIA, PARENT OF WWD. HOROWITZ DEBATED THE CONCESSION A LOOK AT THE GERMAN FASHION INDUSTRY AND ONES TO WATCH PAGE 2 MODEL WITH MICHAEL GOULD AT AT MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK BERLIN. PAGES 6 AND 8 FINANCO’S ANNUAL DINNER. PAGE 10 CITY ON EDGE COLLECTIONS Paris Sales Decline PRE-FALL 2015 After Terror Attacks By JOELLE DIDERICH PARIS — Paris stores have seen a sharp drop in footfall and sales in the wake of a series of terror at- tacks that killed 17 people last week, data released Tuesday showed. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 ■ $3.00 ■ WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY According to a survey by Toluna for retail trade publication LSA, foot traffi c in the Paris region fell WWD 10 percent on the fi rst weekend of the sales versus the same period a year earlier, following the attack on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which claimed 12 victims and set off a chain of related killings. Nationwide, revenues on the fi rst weekend of the sales were down 8.3 percent, it added. An es- timated 3.7 million people marched across France on Sunday to commemorate the victims and defend freedom of expression. “With the emotion and anxiety triggered by the ter- rorist attacks, French people feel more like citizens than consumers,” said Philippe Guilbert, managing director of Toluna, a market research and data col- lection fi rm based in France. “Footfall fell strongly in the Paris region, and consum- ers are frequently limiting themselves to making pur- chases they have been planning for a while,” he added. The attack on Charlie Hebdo last Wednesday co- incided with the fi rst day of winter sales in France. Since then, 69.2 percent of respondents have made a purchase, down 2 percentage points versus 2014. They are also spending less — an average of 142.46 euros, or $168.62, down 5 percent from last year, Toluna found. Stella’s Guilbert said the impact of the attacks was immedi- ate in the Paris region, but less pronounced in the rest of the country. However, 75.5 percent of respondents said they planned to hit the sales in the next few weeks, and e-commerce progressed slightly over the weekend. “This drop in revenues during the sales is perhaps Fab not defi nitive because a majority of people plan to at- tend or return to the sales before they offi cially end. SEE PAGE 10 Faux Neiman’s Innovation Lab They’re fake and they’re spectacular. For the fi rst time, Pushes Digital Envelope Stella McCartney did “Fur Free Fur,” as indicated by a prominent By DAVID MOIN label on the back of her shaggy IN A SMALL space inside Neiman Marcus Direct in faux coat, shown here. The lifelong Dallas, the luxury chain manages a big mission — vegetarian admitted the idea evaluating, designing and testing new technologies and applications, the kind that have been inundating of showing such a look initially the retail scene. troubled her — until she realized, “I can run from 10 to 15 different projects in it today,” said Scott Emmons, enterprise architect for the Neiman “Why not just do great fake fur so Marcus Innovation Lab, also known as the iLab. real fur isn’t needed anymore?” Two-and-a-half years ago, Emmons built the iLab, Made from a woven synthetic fi ber, which was launched in a conference room, moved to its current 450-square-foot space, and is now expected McCartney’s take on Mongolian to be relocated to a larger work area and adjourning lambskin was as convincing as showroom for presentations to Neiman’s executives. the actual thing. For more pre-fall The iLab at the Neiman Marcus Group suggests the company’s deepening dive into emerging technolo- looks, see pages 4 and 5. gies, many bridging the online and brick-and-mortar channels. “Memory” mirrors are popping up in a handful of Neiman’s fi tting rooms, beacon technology has been turned on in a few doors and recently, cus- tom-designed “interactive” tables have been placed in a few of Neiman’s posh shoe salons — all technologies that began as discrete test projects inside the iLab and advanced to pilot projects on the selling fl oors. Emmons is also leading initiatives around infor- mation systems, BYOD, digital signage, wearable tech and efforts to personalize and enhance the shop- ping experience, and has overseen what offi cials de- scribe as a complete Wi-Fi refresh, major wide area network upgrades and a deployment of more than PHOTO BY GEORGE CHINSEE SEE PAGE 12 2 WWD WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 WWD.COM George Named FFM Vice Chairman THE BRIEFING BOX NEW YORK — Stephanie George years of Fairchild success.” Of most relevant, significant and has been appointed vice chair- George’s appointment, Penske fi nest brand in fashion.” IN TODAY’S WWD man of WWD parent Fairchild said, “Stephanie is one of the Prior to George’s earlier Fashion Media Inc., a division world’s finest media execu- position at WWD Media and of Penske Media Corp., effective tives and someone who under- Fairchild corporate, she was February 2015. stands the DNA of Fairchild publisher of W for 10 years and Romain Depret and Most recently, George was ex- and exactly what is needed for oversaw the remake of the bi- Mélanie Laurent at ecutive vice president and chief Fairchild’s next ascent. Everyone weekly magazine from its origi- the Chaumet party marketing offi cer at Time Inc. at Fairchild and PMC couldn’t be nal broadsheet format into a in Paris. For more, In her new position, George more proud to have Stephanie glossy consumer monthly. She see WWD.com. will oversee the business man- back in the family.” also presided over the launch of agement of all Fairchild print Jane magazine. and digital properties. In addi- George left Fairchild to join tion to WWD, they include WWD Time Inc. as president of InStyle and M Collections magazines, and led the transformation Beauty Inc, Footwear News and of the magazine into a global Fairchild Summits and events. brand. She was appointed ex- George’s appointment marks ecutive vice president at Time a return to her publishing Inc. in 2007, serving in several roots, having joined WWD in capacities. As president of Time 1988 as a sales representative Inc. advertising sales and mar- STÉPHANE FEUGÈRE PHOTO BY in Fairchild’s Atlanta bureau. keting from 2008 to 2010, she led George quickly rose through the company to record gains in the publishing ranks, ultimately market share. Paris stores have seen a sharp drop in footfall and sales in serving as president of WWD Before that, George led the wake of a series of terror attacks that killed 17 people last and executive vice president of the company’s Style and week, data released Tuesday showed. PAGE 1 Fairchild. In those roles, George Entertainment brands, includ- was instrumental in driving some ing People, People en Espanol, Inside Neiman Marcus Direct in Dallas, the luxury chain of WWD’s most dramatic growth People StyleWatch, Entertainment manages a big mission — evaluating, designing and testing new years, overseeing the launch of Weekly, InStyle, Essence and Real technologies and applications. PAGE 1 numerous new revenue streams Simple. In her most recent role at and special editions, including Time Inc. as executive vice presi- WWD Collections and Beauty dent and cmo, George was respon- Alexander Wang cast his spring Balenciaga campaign in a Inc., a magazine originally Stephanie sible for the company’s overall softer light than fall, which depicted Gisele Bundchen dressed in launched as Beauty Biz. George positioning and promotion and black, brooding amongst cracked mirrors. PAGE 5 She left Fairchild in 2001 and for managing and growing market- rejoins the company as it charts ing services capabilities and non- In an effort to bolster the fragmented and often under- an ambitious course under the “Home is where your heart branded revenue opportunities. recognized German fashion scene, this month’s Berlin fashion new ownership of Penske Media. is, and Fairchild has always George has been a non-execu- week will be a meeting of the minds. PAGE 6 Penske acquired Fairchild from been home to me,” George said. tive director of Burberry Group Condé Nast in August 2014. “There is a lot of work to do but since 2005 and has served on the At the annual Financo Forum Monday, Diane von Furstenberg, At the time of the acquisi- it will be a pleasure and a lot boards of MPA (The Association Joel Horowitz and Michael Gould stirred up the crowd with a tion, Jay Penske, chairman and of fun when you believe in the of Magazine Media), Lincoln candid parlay on concessions. PAGE 10 chief executive officer, said, brand and its people. It is amaz- Center, the Fashion Institute “PMC looks forward to set- ing how life comes full circle. I of Technology and American Haute Hippie might be ready to bring in a new partner — the ting the stage for the next 100 am privileged to return to the Express Publishing. growing contemporary brand is said to be drawing interest from a number of would-be investors. PAGE 11 Matthew A. Kaness has been named chief executive offi cer of ModCloth, effective Jan. 19, whereupon he will also join the Obama Pushes Stricter Cybersecurity Edict board. PAGE 11 challenges we face as a nation.” was a discussion on cybersecu- By KRISTI ELLIS He said the U.S.