Tommy Hilfiger is exploring some new initiatives this year to entice consumers. The company will be focusing more on ecommerce in 2009, and will work on bringing accessories business back in-house.
The company has hired Kate Klemmer Terry, vice president of Internet for Coach Inc., for the new role of executive vice president for global Internet. Prior to Coach, Klemmer Terry was vice president of licensing and e-commerce at Kate Spade. Based in New York and Amsterdam, she reports to Fred Gehring, chief executive officer of Tommy Hilfiger.
In other news, Hilfiger is bringing its handbag and small leather goods business in-house, effective for fall. Tommy Hilfiger Handbags & Small Leather Goods, which were previously handled by an independently owned licensee of Hilfiger (earlier known as Dickson North America), will now be part of a new accessories division that already includes footwear, which was brought in-house in late 2008.
Ecommerce is where it's at in retailing and accessories are doing better than fashion these days, so the moves are smart ones. Another reason for bringing the accessories line in house is the conviction of the division's CFO Martin S. Bodner. Bodner plead guilty to ripping the company off to to the tune of $19 million over a seven year period. Time to bring it in house so the company can keep a closer eye on its execs.
Tommy Hilfiger is exploring some new initiatives this year to entice consumers. The company will be 
