Personnel Updates:
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. announced the addition of Mark Schmitt as CIO.
Christopher & Banks Corp. named Joel Waller as the new President.
Claire’s Stores announced that CEO Eugene S. Kahn has resigned. Claire’s Stores President James G. Conroy and Jay Friedman, President of Claire’s North American Division, will immediately form an interim office of the CEO.
JCPenney Co. announced Thomas J. Engibous as Chairman. He will assume the chairman’s role from Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, III, JCPenney’s former CEO.
Lululemon Athletica Inc. announced that Chip Wilson, founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Innovation and Branding Officer of Lululemon Athletica plans to resign his executive position of Chief Innovation and Branding Officer.
Neiman Marcus Inc. hired Matthew Singer, formerly Associate Men’s Fashion Director for Bloomingdale’s, as Men’s Fashion Director of Neiman Marcus Stores, Neiman Marcus Direct and Bergdorf Goodman.
Pandora has appointed Björn Gulden as CEO.
Quiksilver Inc. announced that CFO Joe Scirocco has decided to leave the company.
Ralph Lauren Corporation announced the appointment of Daniel Lalonde to President of Ralph Lauren International.
Sears Holdings hired Ron Boire as Exec VP and Chief Merchandising Officer and president. Boire will lead merchandising and retail stores for both the Sears and Kmart brands. Sears Holdings Corp. announced John D. Goodman as Exec VP Apparel and Home has left the company.
Stein Mart Inc. named Chief Administrative Officer D. Hunt Hawkins as COO. Hawkins currently oversees information technology, supply chain and human resources, and will add to his responsibilities store operations and e-commerce.
The Tommy Hilfiger Group announced that it has named Avery Baker as chief marketing officer, a newly created position.
The TJX Cos. announced several senior management shifts, including moving current Marmaxx Group head Michael MacMillan to the company’s European division. MacMillan, who has been in charge of the company’s largest division comprised of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, will now be senior executive VP of TJX Europe. MacMillan replaces Paul Sweetenham, who recently resigned. The current president of HomeGoods, Richard Sherr, will return to Marmaxx Group as Senior Exec VP. Ernie Herrman will continue as TJX President
Urban Outfitters announced that Glen T. Senk has resigned as CEO, and named Chairman and Co-founder Richard Hayne as his replacement.
Financial Focus:
Crocs, Inc. announced that it expects annual revenue to surpass $1 billion for the first time when the Company reports results for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Mergers and Acquisitions:
Fossil Inc. has agreed to buy Reno, NV based Skagen Designs.
Industry Insight:
American Eagle Outfitters announced that it has opened stores in three new international markets: Morocco, Jordan and Egypt.
Christopher & Banks Corporation announced a change in the fiscal year-end to the Saturday nearest to the end of January, rather than the Saturday nearest to the end of February.
DSW Inc. plans to accelerate new store openings in 2012 to between 35 to 40 new stores. This is ahead of its long-term goal of 15 to 20 new stores per year, also pleased to announce that we will be opening more new stores in 2012 than we previously planned, the majority of which will occur in the second half of 2012.
Liz Claiborne Inc. will change its name to Fifth & Pacific Cos.effective on or about
May 15.
New Balance plans to open a 2,500 sq.-ft. New Balance Experience store in Boston, MA.
Nordstrom Inc. announced plans to open a new Nordstrom Rack location in Tysons Corner, Va, in fall 2012. The approximately 42,000-sq.-ft., two-level store is scheduled to open in a space previously occupied by Filene’s Basement. The company also announced plans to open a new Nordstrom Rack location in Huntington Beach, CA, in fall 2012. The approximately 34,000-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open at Edinger Plaza.
Golf & Tennis Pro Shop Inc. opened a new 50,000 sq. ft. PGA TOUR Superstore in Delray Beach, FL. The company also announced plans to open two Chicago-area stores. The 60,000-sq.-ft. superstore in Schaumburg, ILwill open in late-spring 2012. The location of the second store has not yet been announced.
Sears Holdings Corp. has completed the spinoff of its Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corp.
Real Estate:
Bloomingdale’s will open a 25,000 sq. ft. Bloomingdale’s outlet store in Merrimack, NHthis year.
Macy’s plans to close the following five stores in early spring 2012: West Ridge Mall, Topeka, KS, Laurel Mall, Laurel, MD, Parmatown, Parma, OH, Hickory Hollow, Antioch, TN, and Mall of the Mainland, Texas City, TX. The company will open five new Macy’s stores, as well as one replacement store. The new stores will be located in Victorville, CA, Gurnee, IL, The Bronx, NY, Salt Lake City, UTand Greendale, WI, and the replacement store will be built in Bay Shore, NY. Bloomingdale’s also will close four stores in early spring 2012. These stores are located at Perimeter Mall, Atlanta, GA, Oakbrook Home and Furniture, Oak Brook, IL, White Flint, North Bethesda, MD, and Mall of America, Bloomington, MN. Bloomingdale’s is planning to open one new store—at the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, CA and one replacement store, which will be located in the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, CA.
Pandora recently debuted a new concept store in New York‘s SoHoneighborhood. The new 750-sq.-ft.store is located at 412 W.
Patagonia Inc. opened its second-ever Chicagostore nestled in the city’s Magnificent Mile/Gold Coast area.
Recreational Equipment Inc. announced that it will open its first location in Ohio next fall at Rockwood Commons in Cincinnati. The one-story location will occupy 22,000 sq. ft. The company also announced that it will open a 23,500-sq.-ft. store in Medford, OR. REI said it is also relocating its current store in Cary, NCfrom Crossroads Plaza to Devonshire Place in the spring of 2012, which will allow REI to expand from approximately 21,000 sq. ft. to 27,200 sq. ft.
Von Maur will open at Atlanta‘s Perimeter Mall in fall 2012. Von Maur will replace the soon-to-be vacant Bloomingdale’s location. In addition, the company has announced expansion plans in AL and NY.
Green Initiatives:
Kohl’s Department Stores will pilot electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at 33 stores nationwide. Each participating Kohl’s store will have one to four parking spaces reserved for EV drivers to charge at no cost while they shop.