Nasdaq Hosts Panel Discussion
The Nasdaq Stock Market hosted a panel discussion on the state of the fashion apparel/retail industry to top off Los Angeles Fashion Week. Nasdaq, a sponsor of the L.A. Fashion Awards, has recently recognized Los Angeles and its importance in the retail and apparel industry. More than 613 California-based companies are listed on Nasdaq, including True Religion, Charlotte Russe Holdings Inc., Bebe,Volcomand this year’s L.A. Fashion Awards’ IPO-of-the-year winner, Charlotte Russe.
“We believe there is strength in the apparel sector, which is why we are here today,” said Bruce Aust, executive vice president and head of listings for the Nasdaq Stock Market’s corporate client group. “L.A. is a breeding ground for new and innovative designers,” he added.
The panel, held on Oct. 20 at The Standard Downtown in Los Angeles, included Aust and industry experts Steven H. Reiner, CIBC World Markets managing director, consumer/ retail group; Eric M. Beder, Brean Murray, Carret & Co. senior vice president, equity research; and Marcy Medina, Los Angeles bureau chief of Women’s Wear Daily, who served as moderator. The panel focused on topics such as the attributes a company needs to have in order to go public, the advantages and disadvantages of going public, the importance of branding a product, how to access capital in the retail/apparel market and the IPO process. —N. Jayne Seward
