| | | | | Miller, who briefly left the company because of illness |
| French Dressing Jeans, the iconic Montreal jean brand | | | | and a short-lived retirement, has been hired by the |
| that built its reputation and business on a "Real Fit for | | | | new partners as the president of FDJ French Dressing |
| Real Women" is poised for a major comeback this | | | | Inc to continue tooversee the sales growth of the |
| summer. | | | | French Dressing brand in North America. |
| | | | | |
| FDJ Monde Inc, the former owner of the French | | | | His late uncle David Mindlin founded the predecessor to |
| Dressing Jeans brand, filed for bankruptcy protection in | | | | FDJ Monde Inc in 1908, then known as the Keystone |
| December. A group of three Montreal-based apparel | | | | Overall & Pants Manufacturing Ltd. |
| industry players has acquired the iconic brand (for an | | | | |
| undisclosed amount). | | | | Miller and the partners are excited by the aggressive |
| | | | | marketing campaign that will re-launch the brand in time |
| The group, Noah Stern, President of Levy Canada | | | | for the Spring 2009 fashion season. |
| Fashion Company, Groupe Corwik and one of its | | | | |
| senior managers manage companies that have over | | | | The strategy will be planned and executed with the |
| $100 million in combined annual revenues, and has plans | | | | help of Glen Eisenberg, president of Precision, the |
| for an aggressive re-launch of the brand in Canada | | | | Montreal marketing and communications firm. |
| and the USA. The brand name will carry into the new | | | | |
| company called "FDJ French Dressing Inc". | | | | The consortium has earmarked a significant budget |
| | | | | (millions of dollars) to marketing the core values of the |
| According to Noah Stern, the new CEO of FDJ | | | | French Dressing Jeans brand - what Stern calls "the |
| French Dressing Inc, the partners plan to capitalize on | | | | company's four pillars of success: fit, quality, customer |
| the "very high levels of consumer brand recognition of | | | | service and a commitment to the independent |
| and loyalty to the French Dressing brand" as well as | | | | specialty store market, with an "independents first" |
| the company's extensive distribution system which | | | | policy." |
| consists of well over 2,000 independent and specialty | | | | |
| boutique retailers across Canada and the U.S.A. | | | | In addition to fit and quality, servicing the independent |
| | | | | specialty retailer is paramount to the success of the |
| Ayal Twik, Vice-President of Business Development at | | | | brand. The new marketing campaign will lend support |
| Groupe Corwik and now Vice-President of FDJ | | | | to French Dressing's customer base by showcasing |
| French Dressing Inc. agrees, calling it an iconic brand in | | | | the quality of the fit, thereby introducing new |
| North America with an amazing reputation among both | | | | customers to the brand and reminding its faithful fans |
| retailers and customers. | | | | that wearing French Dressing gives every woman a |
| | | | | super silhouette that is slimming, comfortable and |
| After a highly successful run from the 1970's through | | | | fashionable - says Twik, "we are not like all the other |
| to only a few years ago, FDJ Monde Inc veered off | | | | jean companies trying to convince woman that she |
| course from its specialized focus on denim, to expand | | | | should fit into junior jeans designed for 18 year old girls. |
| their product line into coordinated ladies sportswear. | | | | |
| | | | | Every day of every year, we work towards and |
| This misplaced strategy, combined with the struggling | | | | remain committed to providing jeans and related items |
| economy south of the border is what Len Miller, | | | | designed with a REAL FIT for REAL WOMEN. |
| former President of FDJ Monde, attributes as the main | | | | |
| reasons for his former company's recent financial | | | | This is synonymous with what French Dressing has |
| struggles. | | | | built in the marketplace, and that's where we will |
| | | | | continue to focus all our energies". |