Meanwhile, Christopher & Banks has been trying to reinvent itself, too. One of the many local retail success stories around the turn of the century, the Plymouth-headquartered merchant of midpriced women’s clothing has been struggling since then. The focus that worked so well in the late 1990s—comfortably casual garments for busy moms—is seen by consumers as out of date. Even moms, it seems, want to look cool, or at least not last-millennium. In mid-2006, the company’s updated offerings were well received by customers. But the boost didn’t stick: Holiday sales that year were soft, and same-store sales were up just 1 percent in fiscal 2007, which ended March 3.
In August, Nagler was named CEO to replace Matthew Dillon, who’d been in the top spot less than a year. Nagler came to Christopher & Banks from Ohio-based women’s-clothing retailer Lane Bryant. Some top challenges: Refresh the company’s offerings without alienating its core customers, and adjust to a difficult climate for retailers if strapped consumers tighten their belts.
There is some reason for optimism: The company reported that same-store sales were up in October, to $66.4 million from $53 million the previous month.
