retail and Business news : US, Rack Room Shoes, Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse Plots Accelerated Growth

Rack Room Shoes and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse will increase their number of stores and sales at an accelerated pace beginning in 2014. In preparation for this goal, the company has hired Kirk Light as real estate director for Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, and Scot Marsh as real estate manager for Rack Room Shoes. Together, they add more than 60 years of industry knowledge to the brands’ real estate teams.

According to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Brown, the company is planning significant growth with a goal of double-digit unit growth in the coming year, with an even more aggressive plan in 2015.

“As the economy continues to improve, we envision growing Rack Room Shoes and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse to serve their respective consumer segments,” said Brown. “These new additions to our already strong real estate team allow us to leverage a wealth of industry knowledge and experience to strategically implement our company’s expansion plan.”

Previously serving as vice president of real estate and store planning for Stein Mart and Shoe Carnival, Light comes with ample real estate, construction and national market expertise. Light is charged with growing the warehouse concept on a national level for Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, which currently operates 77 locations. He reports directly to Rick Brown.

As the former owner of a real estate and lease consulting business, Marsh brings more than 30 years of professional experience in the retail real estate field to the company’s management team. Marsh will largely share in expanding Rack Room Shoes’ trusted, family footwear brand beyond the southeastern United States. Marsh reports to Rack Room Shoes’ Director of Real Estate Kent Gonnerman.

In addition to the new hires, Gonnerman will lead Rack Room Shoes’ real estate efforts with increased responsibility. In his expanded role, Gonnerman will aid in broadening the retailer’s footprint across the country.

Rack Room Shoes and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse currently operate more than 450 stores in 34 states. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Rack Room Shoes is the family footwear retailer.


By press release