The American Eagle CEO discusses his businesses from denim to DSW to dealmaking.
In the nearly 50 years since Schottenstein, 69, started working with his father at their furniture chain, he has expanded and modernizedHe took his lead from prior generations: His great-grandfather bought goods and sold them out of wagon, his grandfather then started a store in the early 1900s and his father’s generation developed that into department stores, a furniture company and a real estate concern. -parent Designer Brands Inc. — both public companies.
In Columbus, Ohio, the company had four furniture stores under two different banners. The stores competed with each other for customers, but were more or less the same. “I wasn’t even in town,” he recalled. “I said, ‘I didn’t know that was my job.’ My father gave me two words of advice. He said, ‘There’s two things that drive the business, the buying and the marketing.’ Really it changed my life because at that moment I took over the marketing of the furniture operation.
“It used to be a person could go set up a business, set up a store, it could last a long time,” Schottenstein said. “The systems didn’t change that much, right? And there are other areas, like RFID technology or government regulations, where the various businesses can compare notes and work together.
“They make great running shoes,” Schottenstein said. “He’s really developed a great product. You wear his shoes…they’re the most comfortable running shoes. It’s more comfortable than Hoka. It’s the most comfortable. I’ve tried ’em all on. It’s the most comfortable shoe there is.”
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Erykah Badu criticizes Beyoncé's country album cover, asks Jay-Z to intervene: 'Say somethin Jay'Beyoncé says criticism of 2016 CMAs performance inspired ‘Cowboy Carter’ album: ‘I did not feel welcomed’
Read more »
Shell’s Backing Away From Retail, Focusing On EV Charging — Selling 1,000 Fuel Retail LocationsClean Tech News & Views: EVs, Solar Energy, Batteries
Read more »
The World Retail Congress Adds 3 Retailers to Its Hall of FameJean-Paul Agon, Jay Schottenstein and Supaluck Umpujh are all set to receive the honor on April 15.
Read more »
1930 Rolls Royce Phantom visits Jay Leno's GarageA Rolls-Royce Phantom with some Hollywood history stops by Jay Leno's Garage.
Read more »
Jay Bilas picks every single game in the 2024 men's NCAA basketball tournamentThe 'More Than Five-Minute Bracket' from the self-described most powerful and influential basketball brain on planet Earth.
Read more »
PGA Tour's Jay Monahan says meeting with PIF 'constructive'In a memo sent to PGA Tour members Monday night, commissioner Jay Monahan confirmed the meeting Monday with PIF, saying the conversation was 'constructive.'
Read more »