I recently had the opportunity to visit with James Rhee, the CEO of the plus-size women's fashion brand
Ashley Stewart, and attend his speech at the
Harvard Business School Club in New York City, where he described how he used kindness to turn a bankrupt company into one of today's fastest growing fashion brands.Ashley Stewart's boutique stores primarily served plus-sized women within urban communities—women who were often overlooked by other brands. Because the stores were located in the heart of many urban neighborhoods, they often served as gathering places for the women who lived there.
As the father of three daughters, Rhee was moved by the mission and decided to do everything he could to fight for the survival of the brand. "Ashley Stewart was often the first store willing to extend credit to some these women. It was about more than a purchase of a dress that made her feel beautiful. She was treated with respect," says Rhee.
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