Personnel Updates:

Brown Shoe Company announced four strategic additions to the leadership team within its American Sporting Goods division, appointing James Hoff as VP Sales across all ASG brands, Alan Vickers as VP International, Brad Little as VP and Brand Manager Avia and Nevados, and Jorge Cabrera as VP Athletic Product Development.
Sears Holdings has tapped Monica Woo to serve as VP and CMO.
Mergers and Acquisitions:

Luxottica Group announced plans to acquire Israel-based Erroca, a 60-door sunglass specialty retail chain.
Industry Insight:

H&M opened its first store into Texas, with another location set to open before December.
Nanette Lepore has signed a three-year agreement with Tokyo Style Co. Ltd. and Tokyo Style Shanghai Commercial to open freestanding stores and in-store shops in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. The first shop-in-shop is slated to open in March or April 2012, in Jiu Guang department store in Shanghai, followed by four more freestanding stores or in-store shops, which will open in 2013. Two will open in Shanghai, one in Beijing and one in Hong Kong. The shops will range from 1,600 sq. ft. to 1,800 sq. ft.
Old Navy unveiled its Super Fan Nation stores-within-stores at about 1,000 locations across the U.S. The stores will sell branded goods of more than 70 Division I schools, as well as National Football League teams.
Zale Corporation and Vera Wang today announced a partnership to launch a new, exclusive collection of diamond bridal jewelry.
Real Estate:

Cabela’s is marking its entry in Arkansas with plans for a 100,000 sq. ft. store in Rogers scheduled to open in the summer of 2012. The retailer has also announced plans to build stores in Wichita, KS, and Tulalip, WA, as well as Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, all expected to open in 2012.
Express Inc. recently announced plans to open a new flagship store in Brooklyn, NY. The 10,000 sq. ft. space will be located on the ground level of 490 Fulton St. in Brooklyn. The store is slated to debut sometime in spring 2012.
Gap will open two Athleta stores this week in Manhattan’s Upper East and Upper West side neighborhoods. The openings mark the women’s active wear brand’s entry into the East Coast market, and support Athleta’s plan to open up to 50 stores by 2013.
Jimmy Choo, a division of Labelux Group, opened a new 1,500-sq.-ft. boutique in New York‘s West Village neighborhood.
Seven for All Mankind, a division of VF Corp., will continue its Canadian retail expansion, with the opening of two new stores in August 2011 in Toronto and Edmonton.
The Sports Authority Inc. opened six new stores in five states nationwide on Aug. 13. The new stores are in Miami, FL, Los Angeles, CA, Salt Lake City, UT, Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI.
Technology News:

Aeropostale has rolled out an Android application that lets consumers shop on the go and the company is planning to introduce an iPhone application in the company weeks. Aeropostale signed with Usablenet to develop its mobile offerings.
Anna’s Linens has successfully implemented JDA Point-of-Sale (POS).  The company replaced its existing POS system with JDA POS, as well as planned integration with JDA(R) Merchandise Management System.