Pittsfield-based K-B Toys has hired retail veteran Mark Scott as its new Executive Vice President.
Scott succeeds Sal Vasta who has been appointed Executive Vice President of Strategic Business Development. Scott will have responsibility for merchandising, inventory management, store operations and marketing for K-B Toys stores as well as KBtoys.com and eToys.com. Scott's primary objective will be to enhance store profitability and optimize the supply chain of the core business.
"K-B Toys welcomes Mark as the latest member of our executive team," said K-B Toys president and CEO Michael Glazer. "Mark is a proven leader and a successful brand builder who will bring a wealth of new ideas to our business. He has a superb track record in merchandise and operational management and we look forward to his contributions to our future success."
Retail veteran
Scott joins K-B Toys with more than twenty-five years of retail experience and most recently served as Senior Vice President, Strategic Services for XOR, Inc., a Chicago-based internet consulting firm. Throughout his career he has managed both hard line and soft line merchandise categories in a variety of retail formats including discount, specialty and department stores.
Prior to XOR, Scott served as President of Sportmart, Inc., Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing for The Bombay Company and Vice President of Merchandising and Stores for both Mark Cross and Gucci America. Scott began his career in 1976 with Bloomingdales and in 1980 moved to Lord and Taylor where he advanced to Vice President, Divisional Merchandise Manager.
K-B Toys is the nation's largest combined mall-based and online specialty toy retailer, operating more than 1,300 stores in all 50 states, Guam and Puerto Rico, doing business as K-B Toys, K-B Toy Works, K-B Toy Outlet, K-B Toy Liquidators, K-B Toy Express and with online shopping at KBtoys.com (www.kbtoys.com) & eToys (www.etoys.com). K-B Toys, a privately held company, is headquartered in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
Vasta, most recently Executive Vice President and General Merchandise Manager, will now be responsible for cultivating and implementing new business initiatives and growth strategies as well as furthering existing relationships with Sears, Roebuck and Co.; Safeway Inc.; and QVC, Inc.
Eying new growth
"The future growth of K-B Toys depends on our ability to think outside of our traditional channels and develop new avenues to serve our customers," said Glazer. "The various positions Sal has held throughout the years have given him a complete understanding of every facet of our business. His proven ability to identify new opportunities, develop favorable relationships, and secure unique marketing partnerships perfectly positions him to embrace this new role so critical to our continued growth. Key to developing that growth will be Sal's established relationships with both domestic and foreign partners as well as his aptitude for creatively spotting new business trends."
Focused on the toy industry his entire career, Vasta began his career with his father, John Vasta, in their family run toy store, Toy Chest, in Canton, MA. He joined K-B Toys as a District Sales Manager for the Boston area in 1978 and progressed to Regional Sales Manager for the Eastern region. In 1985 he was promoted to Buyer at K-B's corporate headquarters and later to Vice President, Divisional Merchandise Manager for boys toys and preschool. Vasta was named Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager in 1996 and was promoted to Executive Vice President, General Merchandise Manager in 1998.
A native of Dedham, MA, Vasta and his family currently reside in Lenox, MA where he is active in community youth sports programs.
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Winter Storm Warning Issued for Berkshires
Another snowstorm is expected to move through the region overnight on Friday, bringing 5 to 8 inches of snow. This is updated from Thursday's winter weather advisory.
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has posted a winter storm warning for all of Berkshire County and parts of eastern New York State beginning Friday at 4 p.m. through Saturday at 1 p.m.
The region could see heavy to moderate snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, tapering off Saturday morning to flurries.
Drivers should exercise caution on Friday night and Saturday morning, as travel conditions may be hazardous.
Saturday night should be clear and calm, but warming temperatures means freezing rain Sunday night and rain through Monday with highs in the 40s. The forecast isn't much better through the week as temperatures dip back into the teens with New Year's Eve looking cloudy and frigid.
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