Vera Bradley to Open Flagship Store in SoHo

FORT WAYNE, Ind., March 09, 2016 -- Vera Bradley, Inc. (Nasdaq:VRA) (“Vera Bradley” or the “Company”) today announced its plans to open a flagship store in the SoHo Historic District in Manhattan.  The location is scheduled to open in September 2016.

The beautiful two-story 5,700 square foot space will undergo a complete renovation, bringing to life the brand’s rich heritage through a fresh, modern lens, while respecting the style and traditions of the historic streets of the SoHo neighborhood. 

Robert Wallstrom, Chief Executive Officer of Vera Bradley, noted, “We have been searching for the right Manhattan site for our Vera Bradley flagship store for some time.  This high-traffic SoHo location, surrounded by other great retail stores, is the ideal location for us, especially as we continue transforming and modernizing our brand.  The store will be the perfect venue to engage customers with our trademark personalized service and to showcase our wide range of innovative and colorful collections of handbags, luggage, accessories, and gifts.”

About Vera Bradley, Inc.

Vera Bradley is a leading designer of women’s handbags, luggage and travel items, fashion and home accessories, and unique gifts.  Founded in 1982 by friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller, the brand’s innovative designs, iconic patterns, and brilliant colors continue to inspire and connect women unlike any other brand in the global marketplace.  The Company’s commitment to bringing more beauty into women’s lives includes its dedication to breast cancer research through the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.  For more information about Vera Bradley (Nasdaq:VRA), visit www.verabradley.com/mediaroom.

Vera Bradley Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations or beliefs concerning future events and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected, including: possible adverse changes in general economic conditions and their impact on consumer confidence and spending; possible inability to predict and respond in a timely manner to changes in consumer demand; possible loss of key management or design associates or inability to attract and retain the talent required for our business; possible inability to maintain and enhance our brand; possible inability to successfully implement our growth strategies or manage our growing business; possible inability to successfully open new stores as planned; adverse changes in the cost of raw materials and labor used to manufacture our products; and possible adverse effects resulting from a significant disruption in our single distribution facility.  More information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included from time to time in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s public reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015, and its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2016 to be filed with the SEC.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.  Financial schedules are attached to this release.

CONTACTS:
Investors:
Julia Bentley, VP of Investor Relations and Communications
[email protected] 
(260) 207-5116

Media:    
877-708-VERA (8372)