Bigger better for Chiasso

Abstract

Five years after buying upscale gifts cataloger/retailer Chiasso, Dave Marshall has grown the business from $1.4 million to $21 million by rolling out more stores, redesigning its catalog, and expanding its merchandising mix. One of the first things Marshall did after buying the Chicago-based company from founder Keven Wilder was to close most of the 7 existing stores, many of which paid high rent, and replace them with 15 stores in upscale malls around the country.