The Creek is Rising

Coldwater Creek (Sandpoint, Idaho), looking to expand its retail chain of women's apparel, jewelry, gift and home merchandise, has hired retail veteran Daniel Griesemer as senior vp of retail.

Griesemer's career spans 17 years in the apparel industry, where he held upper management and executive posts for firms such as Gap, Gap Kids and Federated Department Stores. In his executive capacity for Gap, he led the development and execution of the company's international expansion strategy.

“We look forward to Daniel's leadership as we invest in the future of Coldwater Creek by opening retail stores in key market areas across the country,” said Coldwater Creek ceo Georgia Shonk-Simmons.

Coldwater Creek has announced plans to open a total of 80 retail store locations in 29 states over the next few years, including 19 new stores this fiscal year. That would put a total of 29 Coldwater Creek retail stores in place before the holiday season of 2001.

Founded in 1984, the company spent most of its formative years building business through catalog merchandising, including its wildly successful Northcountry, Spirit of the West and Natural Elements.