Leonard Rabinowitz and M. Carole Rabinowitz - Page 7

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               The impact on CFI was immediate.  By the early 1990s, CFI’s             
          sales had grown to a peak of over $300 million.  Mr. Rabinowitz              
          attributed a significant portion of the sales growth to CFI’s use            
          of chartered aircraft.  Using a private jet enabled petitioners              
          to visit department store buyers in cities that could not be                 
          reached via commercial airlines.  In addition, petitioners were              
          able to open a flagship Carole Little store in Aspen, Colorado,              
          to showcase their brand and their products.5  This store was one             
          of only one or two that carried the full line of Carole Little               
          merchandise.  The store also served as a product testing ground,             
          where CFI could test particular items before distributing them               
          nationally.  With the jet, they could quickly visit this store to            
          check on or deliver merchandise, examine the store’s appearance,             
          and discuss any issues regarding sales of the clothing with the              
          store staff.  They learned what clothing sold and, more                      
          importantly, why certain clothing did not sell.                              
               Also, the arrival of Mr. Rabinowitz on a private jet to make            
          a sales call distinguished him from other salespeople in his                 
          buyers’ eyes and allowed Mr. Rabinowitz to call on high-ranking              
          executives to whom he would not otherwise have access.  Ms.                  
          Little was able to make more personal appearances to market her              
          brand.  In addition, because she could bring garments on the jet             
          with her and add finishing touches, Ms. Little could devote more             
          time to creating new designs rather than waiting for commercial              
          airlines.  The jet also cut down on the risk of loss or delay of             

               5Petitioners also had a second home in Aspen, Colorado.                 




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