Background
Turf was born Barbara Dorini to Italian immigrant parents in Chicago. Her mother, Minnie Dorini, was a seamstress, while her father, Angelo Dorini, worked for the city of Chicago.
home-furnishings company executive
Turf was born Barbara Dorini to Italian immigrant parents in Chicago. Her mother, Minnie Dorini, was a seamstress, while her father, Angelo Dorini, worked for the city of Chicago.
Graduate, University Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Crate & Barrel is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. She was raised in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago. In 1967, Turf began working as a temporary summer employee at Crate & Barrel"s original store on Wells Street in Chicago.
She soon left the teaching profession to join Crate & Barrell as a full-time employee.
She began working at the company"s headquarters in 1974. Turf worked in the personnel, merchandising and marketing departments during her first twenty years with the company.
In 1996, Turf was promoted to President of Crate & Barrel. Under Turf, the company acquired The Land of Nod, a children"s brand, in 2000.
She also launched CB2, a division of Crate & Barrel aimed at a younger, hipper consumer demographic.
As Chief Executive Officer, Barbara Turf expanded Crate & Barrel into new overseas emerging markets in Asia and the Middle East. She also shepharded the company during the Financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the resulting economic downturn during the following years. Turf retired as Chief Executive Officer in 2012, but remained with Crate & Barrel by joining its board of directors.
In addition to Crate & Barrel, Turf served on the boards of directors for Ann Taylor Stores Corporation and the Gucci Group.
Turf was diagnosed with the pancreatic cancer. Barbara Turf died from pancreatic cancer on July 12, 2014, at the age of 71.
She had resided in Winnetka, Illinois, since 1998.