NexCen Taking Time With Blass

A year after buying Bill Blass, NexCen Brands Inc. is exercising patience.

"There's a way to do things quick, and there's a way to do things right, like they did with Burberry, which takes more time — and Bill Blass is not the kind of brand you can go forward on without cleaning up current distributions," said Robert D'Loren, NexCen president and chief executive officer. "Our strategy with Bill Blass was to reposition back at the upper tier. That's always a challenge when you have product in lots of distribution channels."