Clint Engel
Bradley to handle both U.S., Canadian stores

FORT WORTH, Texas — Vicki Bradley is taking on the role of vice president of U.S. stores in addition to her duties as president of Canadian operations for The Bombay Co.

She replaces Patsy Holmes, who will leave the specialty retailer Friday.

Bradley has been president of Bombay’s Canadian operations since October 1999. Before joining the Top 100 company, she was vice president of sales and operations for United Kingdom-based retailer Marks & Spencer and spent a number of years with  Woolworth/Venator’s The Northern Group division in the United States and Canada.

Holmes, who had been with the company for seven years and has served as regional director of stores before becoming vice president of stores, referred questions to Chief Financial Officer Elaine Crowley, who couldn’t be reached for comment.

Bradley will report to James Carreker, chairman and CEO.

“We look forward to being able to leverage Vicki’s strong leadership skills here in the United States,” said Carreker, who also plans to leave the company later this year. “Her broad-based experience and effectiveness has generated very successful results in Canada.”

Carreker thanked Holmes and said, “we wish her well in her future endeavors.”

Bombay, which sells home furnishings and gifts at 486 stores as well as through specialty catalogs and online, has been struggling recently. It posted a fiscal fourth quarter loss of $25.1 million — mainly because of an accounting change — and a 4.3% decrease in same-store sales.

As part of a multi-phased turnaround strategy, the retailer plans to close a net 33 to 38 stores this year while continuing to migrate to more successful off-mall locations. It’s also testing new merchandise and merchandising techniques including a bath category and smaller, but more frequent product introductions.