Personnel Updates:
American Apparel appointed Stacey Shulman as Chief Technology Officer.
Christopher & Banks Corp. said CEO Larry Barenbaum has resigned.
Daffy’s CEO Caryn Lerner has left the company.
Eddie Bauer chief Neil Fiske announced he is leaving the company. David Chamberlain, executive chairman, will serve as interim CEO until a permanent replacement is named.
Express has appointed Michael Keane to the position of Exec VP Human Resources.
Gap Inc. named Jill Stanton to the newly-created role as Creative Advisor for Old Navy, and Liz Meltzer as Senior VP of Gap International Merchandising.
Golfsmith International Holdings has appointed Sue E. Gove as President of the company, in addition to maintaining her role as COO and CFO.
Guess Inc. has appointed Chet Kuchinad as Chief Diversity Officer and Amber Tarshis as Senior VP Marketing.
JCPenney Co. promoted Elizabeth Sweney to the position of Chief Merchant, announced that Brian Robinson has joined the company as VP of Collaborations, and named Laurie Beja Miller Exec VP of The Square, its upcoming new format for the center core.
The Limited named Steve Zawada as Senior VP and General Manager of eloquii, the new plus-size division.
Liz Claiborne Inc. announced that David Bassuk will be Co-President and COO of Juicy Couture.
Recreational Equipment Inc. announced that Angela Owen has been named Senior VP Marketing and Lee Fromson has become Senior VP Merchandising. 
Sears Holdings Corp. is cutting 100 jobs at its headquarters in Hoffman Estates, IL.
Sterling Jewelers named Ed Hrabak as COO to succeed Bill Montalto, who is retiring from the position in June. Sterlingalso announced that Stuart Lee, VP Merchandising, will be promoted to Senior VP Merchandising upon Hrabak’s promotion to COO. Dawn McGuire, VP Mall Merchandising, will be promoted to VP Merchandising, replacing Stuart Lee in that role.
Financial Focus:
Casual Male Retail Group, Inc. reported fiscal 2011 sales of $397.7 million.
Gap Inc. reported net sales for fiscal year 2011 were $14.5 billion, a decrease of 1 percent compared with net sales of $14.7 billion last year.
Industry Insight:
Abercrombie & Fitch will close 180 U.S. stores by 2015.
The Collective Brands Performance + Lifestyle Group has signed new agreements with partners in 10 countries to continue the rapid international expansion of several of its brands in Mexico, Indonesia, Japan, five South American countries and the Czech Republic.
Diesel Black Gold, a division of Diesel, opened it’s first-ever, bricks-and-mortar location. Located at 68 Greene St., the 2,500 sq. ft. space is in Manhattan’s SoHoneighborhood. The next Black Gold store is slated to open in Los Angeles this year or early in 2013.
Esprit reported it remains on track to close its directly managed stores in North America by end of March 2012 and will continue to look for a licensing partner.
Fendi has opened a 3,000 sq. ft. space next door to its existing 400 sq. ft. kiosk at the Forum Shops in Las Vegas. The store opening marks Fendi’s fourth location in Las Vegas.
Hudson’s Bay Company plans to close the remaining 141 Fields locations across Canadaby this fall.
Kohl’s Corp. is going to mix up its approach by testing new store layouts and new merchandise categories while funneling more money to the Web and cutting back on store openings and remodelings.
Big M. Inc. announced it closed its Mandee store in Atlantic City, NJ.
Quiksilver opened a new concept called 585 Boardriders. The 10,000 sq. ft. store is in Venice, CA.
Sears Holdings Corp. announced it plans to shutter all nine of its Great Indoors stores and three stores in Canada. The announcement follows the company’s decision to close at least 100 to 120 stores.
Urban Outfitters is bringing its bridal concept to Chicago. The 3,600-square-foot, two-level store is the retailer’s second BHLDN store nationwide.
Real Estate:
Belk Inc. plans to remodel approximately 30 stores in 2012. Belk will relocate two stores, one in Waynesville, NC, and one in Pensacola, FL, expand four locations, remodel 13 stores and partially remodel 10 more.
Cabela’s is unveiling expansion plans, including a new retail concept called Cabela’s Outpost. The first store with the new format is expected to open this fall in Union Gap, WA. The new stores are smaller, about 40,000 sq. ft., and will be built in currently underserved markets. The company is also expanding its next-generation stores, with five set to open in 2012, and with three scheduled to open in 2013: Columbus, OH, Grandville, MI, and Louisville, KY.  The company will open a new store in Tulalip, WA, on April 19.
Converse Inc., a subsidiary of NIKE Inc., announced the opening of its first West Coast specialty retail store in Santa Monica, CA. The 7,000 sq. ft. location allows customers to design one-of-a-kind footwear, apparel and accessories.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. opened three new stores located in Ohio, Florida and Utah, on March 7. The Ohio location is a relocated store, and is set to open at Applewood Commons. The Floridastore will be located at Regions Bank Plazain Fort Lauderdale. The Utahstore will be located in St. George at Red Rock Commons.
J. Crew Group Inc. plans to open three new Canada stores. Two of the planned stores will open in spring 2012: a Vancouverstore located at 1088 Robson St., and a second location in West Edmonton Mall. The third store will open in fall 2012 at the Eaton Centre in Toronto.
Gordman’s will open 3 new stores in Utah.
Neiman Marcus is opening in Long Island, NY. The new 100,000 sq. ft. building will be completed in 2015 at Garden City’s Roosevelt Field Mall.
Nordstrom Inc. recently announced plans to open 15 new stores in 2012. The first new store will be a full-line store that will open in Salt Lake City, UTon March 22. The 14 other stores will open under the retailer’s Nordstrom Rack banner in Seattle, WA; Boise, ID; Alpharetta, GA.; Farmington, CT.; Willow Grove, PA.; Long Island, NY; Phoenix, AZ; Manchester, MO; Orange, Temecula, and Huntington Beach, CA; San Diego, CA; Warwick, RI; and Tysons Corner, VA.
Rag & Bone opened it’s first-ever Boston store. Located at 111 Newbury St., the 2,300 sq. ft. space occupies three floors. Currently, Rag & Bone is searching for space in Los Angeles, CA and has stores planned for New York’s Madison Avenue and London. 
Sears Canada Inc. plans to close three Sears locations by Oct. 31. The stores are located in Vancouver Pacific Centre in Vancouver; Calgary Chinook Centre in Calgary; and Ottawa Rideau Centre in Ottawa.
Stein Mart Inc. will open three new stores on March 15. The new stores will be located in Irvine, CA, Suwanee, GA, and Sunset Hills, MO.The Irvinestore is a relocation of another store, and is part of The Market Place II shopping center. The Georgiastore is located in the Johns Creek Town Center, and the Missouri store is part of The Plaza at Sunset Hills.
T.J.Maxx opened its first Marin Countystore in the 32,000 sq. ft. space that Borders occupied in San Rafael, CAbefore closing last year.
UGG Australia plans to open its first men’s-only store on Madison Avenue 800-square-foot shop for men adjacent to its flagship store at 600 Madison Ave. in June.
Technology News:
Hibbett Sports announced a new online platform, stadiumshop.hibbett.com, which represents the retailer’s first entrance into e-commerce.