I credit the whole company for this success. They did a good job in Europe of keeping it a premium brand, and the U.S. followed suit. That drove this phenomenon.
Bringing in spring merchandise now is a good thing. It creates a sense of excitement for consumers. I think retailers are better off selling less stuff at higher margins than getting into a promotional mode later in the season.
It eliminates competition. It will allow the new company to sharpen the pencil, offer better prices and goods and maybe even compete in the mass market channel.
Is it a challenge, but the good news for them is that it has been a sleepier brand, so it's not as if they are trying to maintain a property at its peak.