Personnel Updates:
Big 5 Sporting Goods announced Boyd Clark was named Senior VP Buying following the resignation of Thomas Schlauch.
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. appointed Peggy Reilly Tharp to the position of VP Investor Relations.
Collective Brands, Inc. announced Matthew Rubel would resign as Director, Chairman of the board and an officer of the company. Michael J. Massey has been named the Interim CEO and D. Scott Olivet has been named the company’s non-executive Chairman.
DSW has named Todd Cordell as Senior VP Human Resources. Cordell will be responsible for all human resources activities in support of DSW Stores, DSW.com, and the DSW leased business division.  
Michael MacDonald, CEO of DSW Inc.
Groupe Bikini Village Inc. announces the appointment of Mrs Helene F. Fortin as Chairwoman of its Board of Directors.
JCPenney Co. Inc. has hired Ron Johnson as CEO. Johnson previously served as Senior VP of Retail Apple Inc. He will begin working with the company on Nov. 1, succeeding the previous CEO, Myron E. (Mike) Ullman III.
Kenneth Cole Productions announced Paul Blum will be appointed to the position of CEO. He most recently held the position of CEO at luxury jewelry company David Yurman. Kenneth Cole will continue as Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, maintaining his creative role over design and advertising.
Levi Strauss & Co. announced that it has named Anne Rohosy as Exec VP and President Global Dockers.
Neiman Marcus Inc. has hired John E. Koryl as President of its Neiman Marcus Direct division.
Sears Holdings Corp. said its CFO Michael D. Collins resigned to pursue another opportunity.
Talbots announced that it has named Lesli Gilbert Senior VP Stores. In this role, Gilbert will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Talbots core retail operations in the United States and Canada, as well as supporting the implementation of the company’s store reimage and rationalization programs.
Mergers and Acquisitions:
Indus VF Corp. has signed a definitive merger agreement with The Timberland Company.
Industry Insight:
Bon-Ton Stores Inc. announced plans to remodel three Wisconsin locations. Units in Brookfield and Mayfair will have larger shoe departments, with renovations scheduled to be completed in August 2011. The company’s Boston Store Southridge location in Greendale, WI, will receive a total store remodel with construction expected to begin in October 2011 and completed in August 2012. The redesigned store will reallocate space and realign departments. The shoe department will double in size and have new fixtures, and the cosmetics department will have new showcases and lighting.
Charming Shoppes Inc. is considering the sale of its Fashion Bug stores. The company is said to be devoting its resources to the more profitable plus-size women’s Lane Bryant label.
Gap Inc. recently announced plans to open two new Athleta stores in Southern California. Both slated to open in fall 2011, stores are planned at the Grove shopping center in Los Angeles’ Fairfax district, as well as a store at the outdoor shopping mall Fashion Island in Newport Beach, CA. Additionally, two New York Athleta stores are scheduled to open in summer 2011.
Macy’s plans to open its first store at a discount mall in the suburbs of Chicago in 2013, but the department store won’t be a lower-priced outlet
Nordstrom Inc. said it will close its downtown Indianapolis store on July 31, affecting 176 employees. The retailer said its nearby full-line store at the Fashion Mall at Keystone will remain open. The company will also open a new discount Rack store in Indianapolis, IN in September.
Real Estate:
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. opened its first-ever French flagship store on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées in Paris in May. The store measures approximately 33,000 sq. ft. Abercrombie & Fitch plans to open new flagship stores in Madrid; Düsseldorf, Germany; Brussels, Belguim; Dublin; and Singapore in 2011.
Aritzia LP opened a new flagship store in New York’s SoHo neighborhood. Located at 524 Broadway, the 10,000 sq. ft. space was inspired by the metaphysical world and natural phenomena.
Diane von Furstenberg opened its second New York boutique at 135 Wooster St. in SoHo. The store features a new retail concept which is expected to serve as a blueprint for future DVF stores.
Frederick’s of Hollywood Inc. will open its Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., flagship in July 2011. The 3,500 sq. ft. flagship will open in Mushrif Mall. The store opening is part of an exclusive multiyear licensing agreement with Safeer Establishment, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Associated Business Group. As part of the deal, 10 more Frederick’s stores will open by 2014 in the Gulf Region, three of which will be in the U.A.E.
Gap Inc. plans to close 200 Gap brand stores by 2013. The company did not disclose which stores it plans to shutter. The company also will add 50 or 60 Gap outlet stores and about 40 Banana Republic Factory stores. Gap Outlet recently expanded into Canada and Japan and will soon expand to Italy.
Macy’s Inc. has announced plans to open two new Macy’s stores—one each in the Chicago and Milwaukee markets. Both will be located in shopping centers that are being redeveloped by Simon Property Group. A one-level, 140,000 sq. ft. Macy’s in Gurnee Mills in Gurnee, Ill., will open in spring 2013. The new Macy’s store will be housed in a former Circuit City location. A two-level, 150,000 sq. ft. Macy’s in Southridge Mall in Greendale, WI, will open in spring 2012.
Nordstrom Inc.  will open its Beaverton Rack store on September 22. The store will complement the full-line Nordstrom, which is nearby at Washington Square. Nordstrom Inc. announced that it will open a new Nordstrom Rack at Westfield Plaza Bonita shopping center in National City, CA. The 42,222 sq. ft. store will open on October 27.
Old Navy announced that it will unveil its 300th remodeled store in mid-July.
Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) announced plans to enter Indianapolis, IN with the opening of a retail store in spring 2012. The approximately 23,800 sq. ft. store will be located at the Plaza at Castleton.
rue21 inc. plans to open its 700th store at the end of June 2011. Additionally, the company’s goal is to reach 1,000 stores by the end of 2014.
Saks Incorporated’s Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH plans to open four new stores this year – Kansas City, KS, Oklahoma City, OK, Northbrook, IL and Charleston, SC. Additionally, OFF 5TH will open a new store at the Market at Town Center in Sugar Land, TX that will replace its store located at The Fountains in Stafford, TX. The stores will range from 25,000 to 28,000 square feet and will be modeled in Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH’s innovative ‘luxury in a loft’ store design.
Saks is opening a Saks Fifth Avenue store in Kazakhstan next year. Saks plans to license the store slated to open in August 2012 in a new shopping mall located in the Middle Eastern city of Almaty.
Victoria’s Secret Stores recently announced plans to begin construction on a multimillion-dollar renovation of its location within the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The newly renovated 7,722 sq. ft. store will serve as a prototype for Victoria’s Secret, featuring various design elements not found at any of its other Las Vegas locations.
Technology News:
Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman aren’t known for their technical savviness, but their online sales are growing rapidly and the chains are investing more in tech innovations such as streaming fashion shows and shoe-shopping applications to help them stay ahead of the curve.
Green Initiatives:
Kohl’s Corp. issued its first corporate sustainability report, which touts the company’s achievements in reducing energy use, expanding use of renewable energy and other green initiatives. By the end of 2010, 590 stores, or more than half of all Kohl’s stores – received the Energy Star label.