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Former president of Gimbels was the first department store retail chief executive to reach that level without a background in merchandising or operations
Kai Frost, 77, of Madison, Conn., died August 3, at Middlesex Hospital. Frost began a career in retail working for his uncle in South West Africa (now Namibia) in window display at Kock and Schmidt. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1961 with his wife and small children, he found a job in display at Cincinnati’s Mabley & Carew (a division of Allied Stores). After one year, he was promoted to display director and in l967, Frost was transferred to Allied Stores’ Maas Bros Division in Tampa as director of visual display, later becoming vp of sales promotion. He was again transferred in 1971, joining Jordan Marsh in Boston, where he served as senior vp of sales promotion, visual merchandising and store planning. In l975, he was voted into the Visual Merchandising Hall of Fame.
He left Allied in 1975 and went to Philadelphia as the president of Gimbels. In l981, he joined John Wanamaker as senior vp and director of sales promotion where he was in charge of the Japan Dynasty '83 Promotion and the Renaissance Italy ‘84 Promotion. He retired in 1991.
Frost is survived by his wife Marianne, his four children, Pia Natoli of Fairfield, Conn., Bernd Frost of Portland, Conn., Robert Frost of Talent, Ore., and Diane Frost Boston of Darien, Conn., and his 8 grandchildren.
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He could be or should i say he is great example for those who are trying to have a career in retail working because he never quits, always pursuing to have a better life and always doing great on his job that is why he was given the opportunity to excel at his work and get promoted. Tamara Mariea