CAbi, LLC, Carol Anderson by invitation (“CAbi”), a direct sales marketer of designer ready-to-wear women’s apparel, announced that it has appointed Lynne Coté, a seasoned retail industry veteran, as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board.
Ms. Coté brings more than 25 years of retail experience and a long, successful track record of delivering brand expansion strategies to market. She joins CAbi from clothing retailer Tribal Sportswear, Inc. where she served as CEO since 2009 and led the company’s restructuring and launch of new product lines.
Ms. Coté also spent six years with Jones Apparel Group as CEO of Jones Apparel’s business divisions including Wholesale Bridge, Better and Moderate Apparel, Suits, and Dresses. During that time, she oversaw some of the company’s largest brands – including Jones New York, Anne Klein New York, and Nine West.
Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Coté said, “I am delighted to be joining CAbi. This company not only stands for high quality, beautiful design, but it also has provided 3,300 of its entrepreneurial consultants with a home-based business opportunity in the fashion industry for more than 10 years. With a foundation such as this one, I look forward to working with the company and the entire team to continue to grow the business in new and meaningful ways.”
Carol Anderson, Co-Founder of CAbi, and Kimberly Inskeep, President and Chief Culture Officer, commented, “We are thrilled to have Lynne join our team. Lynne has experience in every facet of the retail industry, from product development and sourcing, to marketing and brand management. She has made good companies great and has built businesses from the ground up. We are confident that Lynne will bring her skills and entrepreneurial spirit to CAbi, and our consultants will have access to and benefit from her leadership and guidance.”
Prior to Jones Apparel Group, Ms. Coté held a variety of senior roles at McNaughton Apparel Group, later purchased by Jones Apparel Group. During her tenure at McNaughton, Ms. Coté served as President from 2000 to 2001, and Executive Vice President, Design and Merchandising from 1998 to 2000, where she revitalized a down-trending business with marketing strategy and updated product assortments.
During her career, Ms. Coté also held positions at John Paul Richard, Inc., a company she helped found, and JC Penney Corporation. She is a graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
About CAbi
For over 25 years, women’s apparel designer, Carol Anderson, sold her collections in high-end department stores and specialty boutiques across the country. In an effort to maintain her creative freedom and to bring her loyal following of customers even closer to the brand, CAbi (Carol Anderson by invitation) was launched in 2001.
Based in Los Angeles, CAbi is a social selling apparel business, which allows women all over the country to share Carol Anderson’s designs with friends and acquaintances, similarly to how Tupperware or beauty supplies were sold in the past. Leveraging the brand’s reputation in the fashion world, CAbi is a lucrative career opportunity for women doing in-home shows, providing one-on-one personal attention to customers, and building a team of Consultants.
