Ward Bitter Counters Rumors of Ruin at Scalamandre
August 17, 2009
NEW YORK, New York - Despite rumors that the company has been teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, Ward Bitter, president of Baranzelli Silk Surplus, the retail arm of the family business Scalamandre, insisted Baranzelli is doing just fine, with stores in Boston, New York, Long Island and Florida, although the store in West Palm Beach has been hit particularly hard by the economic crisis.
Ward Bitter Jr., President of Baranzelli Silk Surplus, began his lengthy home furnishings career in 1978 with Scalamandre, the high-end jobber founded in 1960 by Edwin Bitter, Sr.
After spending five years in the back end operations of the company including the production mills, sales, and marketing, Ward introduced a cutting-edge computer system to cater to their demanding clientele and bolstered their largely undeveloped trimming division into an industry-leading source of trimming designs.
Although Ward had been elected president of Scalamandre in 1993, he sought an additional career path and pursued a life in banking with Morgan Stanley. In 2001 Ward returned to Scalamandre in order to buy out and restructure the retail Baranzelli Silk Surplus store.
Ward's brother, Bob Bitter, is currently the vice president of Scalamandre whose company was "rescued" about six months ago by a private investor that is retooling the entire company. Bitter could not confirm to Fabrics and Furnishings who the investor is. "Everything is a gamble in this business," said Bitter. "But our job is making sure we get through this phase."
Ward Bitter Jr., President of Baranzelli Silk Surplus, began his lengthy home furnishings career in 1978 with Scalamandre, the high-end jobber founded in 1960 by Edwin Bitter, Sr.
After spending five years in the back end operations of the company including the production mills, sales, and marketing, Ward introduced a cutting-edge computer system to cater to their demanding clientele and bolstered their largely undeveloped trimming division into an industry-leading source of trimming designs.
Although Ward had been elected president of Scalamandre in 1993, he sought an additional career path and pursued a life in banking with Morgan Stanley. In 2001 Ward returned to Scalamandre in order to buy out and restructure the retail Baranzelli Silk Surplus store.
Ward's brother, Bob Bitter, is currently the vice president of Scalamandre whose company was "rescued" about six months ago by a private investor that is retooling the entire company. Bitter could not confirm to Fabrics and Furnishings who the investor is. "Everything is a gamble in this business," said Bitter. "But our job is making sure we get through this phase."
