Team Tactics Launches Branded Line
Cerritos, Calif.-based Team Tactics, a private-label denim company, has launched its first branded line, called Level Ninety-Nine, bringing in Neal Gaydos, formerly of Bebe and Ron Herman-Fred Segal Melrose, as vice president of design and merchandise for the denim-based junior contemporary line.
Gaydos was hired by Team Tactics because of “his experience more than anything else,” said Larry Ameen, vice president of sales and marketing at Team Tactics. “He’s done some beautiful stuff with Bebe and he’s a jean maven,” he said. “[He] implemented the denim program at Bebe and [he was] a buyer for 14 years at Fred Segal. His background and knowledge of the business will be an important part of this company. I think we’re lucky to have him.”
Team Tactics has been in the private-label market for 10 years, producing apparel for retailers and brands such as Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Harley-Davidson and Victoria’s Secret. Level Ninety-Nine represents the company’s first foray into its own branded apparel line.
“We’ve been doing private-label stuff for 10 years in denim and we felt like there was a void in the market when it comes to upper junior contemporary,” said Ameen.
Level Ninety-Nine had a soft launch last fall in Nordstrom, and according to Ameen, the company plans to continue the introduction of the brand to market with a focus on slow growth.
“We’re not rolling out to everybody. We’re hand-picking the people we want to do business with. We are hand-picking the stores that we want to be in, and we are wanting a slow but solid foundation.”
Ameen said the company plans to initially focus on denim, cords and twills, with no immediate plans to launch additional branded lines.
“We have had so many people that want to license out our name [for everything] from leatherwear to sweaters, but we are not ready for that,” he said.
According to Ameen, Level Ninety-Nine will be targeted to better specialty stores nationwide. Wholesale price points range from $32 to $55. —Darryl James
