Nine West

   This shoe company, started in 1978 by partners Jack Fisher and Vince Camuto, was named after their address at 9 West 57th Street in New York City. It is a top designer and marketer of women's shoes, clothing, and accessories. Nine West sells through 600 of its own stores, as well as through department stores, specialty stores, and independent shoe stores in the United States. Further, it licenses its name outside the United States. In 1992, Nine West went public and sales were posted at $373 million. In 1995, Nine West bought the footwear division of the United States Shoe Corporation for $600 million. In 1996, it acquired the handbag and accessories firm LJS Accessory Collections and signed a partnership deal with Calvin Klein to jointly produce and distribute a new line of footwear and accessories under the CK brand name. In 1997, Nine West licensed its name for outerwear to G-III Apparel. Jones Apparel purchased Nine West in March 1999 for about $1.4 billion. By 1999, Nine West had licensed its name to eyewear and watch companies. In 2000, it was one of the first companies to roll out an e-mail marketing strategy that provided a targeted one-on-one communication with the customer, which proved to be more successful than direct-mail efforts of the past. Nine West brands include Nine West, Easy Spirit, Bandolino, Enzo Angliolini, and Calico. In 2006, Nine West collaborated with designers Thakoon Panichgul, Sohia Kokosalaki, and Vivienne Westwood to produce a limited-edition ready-to-wear collection.

   See also E-commerce.