Belk Celebrates 125th Anniversary

Belk Inc. (Charlotte, N.C.) has rounded up exclusive commemorative items from its vendors for its 125th anniversary celebration.

The regional department store retailer, which has more than 300 stores throughout the Southeast, was founded in Monroe, N.C., in 1888 by William Henry Belk and called New York Racket. It became Belk Bros. after Dr. John Belk became his brother’s partner.

According to president and chief merchandising officer Kathryn Bufano, the list of vendors who contributed items includes Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Jessica Simpson, Lilly Pulitzer, Vince Camuto, Anne Klein, Steve Madden, Elie Tahari, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, CK, Brahmin, Fossil, Nautica, Columbia and Levi Strauss. “We even got exclusive coffee from Keurig,” Bufano told Women’s Wear Daily, and KitchenAid provided a special mixer.

“We wanted to get 125 exclusives from key brands and manufacturers, and we exceeded that,” Bufano said. “We got anywhere from 150 to 160.”