Fashion Forward Kenneth Cole Comes to Corporate Marketplace May 05, 2008
By Anne Marie Lee
Announced in early April, a licensing agreement between recognition solutions provider The Corporate Marketplace Inc. and American clothing designer Kenneth Cole enables a larger selection of Kenneth Cole watches, luggage and leather products to be made available to Corporate America and non-retail special markets through TCMPI. While TCMPI has always been the exclusive distributor for Kenneth Cole for the industry, it did not deal directly with manufacturers, but through the retail chain. The new agreement establishes a direct relationship between TCMPI and Kenneth Cole manufacturers for leather goods, luggage and timepieces. Says Kathy Bromer, director of marketing, "This now direct relationship with these manufacturers will streamline the distribution channel." As for what this new deal brings to TCMPI clients, Bromer adds, "We obviously can offer more to any type of incentive program—sales, loyalty, corporate gift, plateau service programs—than we could before. It will give us more offerings in various colors, in various collections of luggage and timepieces—more than we've had before. It also helped us pass on some price savings, as we can, but more efficiently, in different quantities than we could before. It's really going to enhance the distribution that we've already had."