Personnel Updates:
Aeropostale announced that Emilia Fabricant will join the company as Exec VP Design, Merchandising and Production.
Bakers Footwear Group Inc. has fired three of its top executives and estimates it could pare its workforce by one-third in a major restructuring. Joseph VanderPluym, the company’s COO, Stanley Tusman, the Chief Planning Officer, and Mark Ianni, the company’s Chief Merchandising Officer, were relieved of their duties.
Bebe Stores Inc. said its President Emilia Fabricant has resigned.
Bergdorf Goodmanannounced Ginny Hershey-Lambert and Bill Brobston are leaving the company.
The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. is eliminating the position of COO and dismissed Barbara J. Schrantz.
City Sports announced President and CEO Jeff Connor resigned. Edward Albertian was named as his replacement.
Dillard’s has named Chris Johnson as the company’s VP real estate. He will assume the role following the retirement of James Cherry, Jr. in December.
Dots announced it has named Lisa Rhodes as its new CEO.
Finish Line named Greg Beidler as Senior VP Store Operations, Scott Hoffman as Exec VP and Chief Merchandising Officer and Harvey Bierman as VP Digital Technology.
Fossil Inc. hired John A. White as Exec VP and COO. The company also announced CFO Michael Kovar will retire effective March 2013.
Francesca’sannounced CEO John De Meritt will retire from the company and will be succeeded by current President Neill Davis, effective Jan. 1. Current COO Theresa Backes will step in as President.
Gap Inc. hired former President of JCPenney Co. Michael Francis as a Marketing Creative Advisor for Gap.
Hot Topicannounced that Jerry Cook has resigned as chief store officer, effective February 28, 2013.
The Jones Group Inc. appointed Kathy Nedorostek to the newly created position of Group President, Global Footwear and Accessories.
Levi Strauss & Co named Seth Ellison President of Dockers brand.
Neiman Marcus Group announced that Joseph Weber will be joining the company as Senior VP, Chief Human Resources Officer.
Nordstrom, Inc. named Karen McKibbin President of Nordstrom Canada.
Ralph Lauren Corp. appointed Christopher H. Peterson as Senior VP and CFO.
Ross Stores Inc.announced Chief Executive Michael Balmuth will transition to the role of Executive Chairman in 2014.
Stuart Weitzmanannounced that it has promoted Wayne Kulkin to the newly created position of Vice Chairman.
Financial Focus:
Sears Holdings Corp shares plummeted more than 8 percent and is no longer on the S&P 500 index. The company’s sales have fallen every year since 2005, when Kmart and Sears Roebuck and Co merged.
Mergers and Acquisitions:
Bakers Footwear Group Inc. plans to sell 52 stores to Aldo U.S. Inc. as part of a major restructuring.
Industry Insight:
Ann Inc. announced that it will open its first Canadian Ann Taylor store located in the Toronto Eaton Centre on Oct. 5. The new store will mark the first international store for Ann Taylor. The second international store, located in Toronto at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre, is set to open in November.
Casual Male Retail Group is shifting its focus to its Destination XL format. By the end of 2015, the company expects to have closed all 400 Casual Male stores and have 225 to 250 DXL units.
Gap Inc. opened its first physical Piperlime store. The 4,000 sq. ft. store is in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood.
Gap Inc. announced Friday that it will open its first standalone store in Mexico.
JCPenney debuted its newest installment of shops for Liz Claiborne, IZOD and jcp—a new JCPenney-exclusive brand dedicated to fashion basics in nearly 700 stores. These new fall shops will add to its existing portfolio of shops, which include Levi’s, The Original Arizona Jean Co., i jeans by Buffalo, MNG by Mango and Sephora. Over the next few years, the company plans to transform its sales floor into a collection of 100 shops. JCPenney is launching the first-ever fashion collection by Cosmopolitan magazine. The collection includes lingerie, sleepwear, footwear and handbags, available now exclusively in more than 600 JCPenney stores nationwide, as well as on JCP.com.
Mark Shale filed for reorganization bankruptcy. The three existing Chicago area stores will continue to operate during the reorganization process.
The Men’s Wearhouse will make its outlet center debut in the fourth quarter, opening five stores under the Men’s Wearhouse Outlet banner.
Neiman Marcus Group Inc. announced it is preparing to go public.
Nike Inc. with Foot Locker Inc.-owned Champs Sports debuted a new football only retail store, Nike Yardline, at a New Jersey mall.
Nine West has opened the first standalone store for its Vintage America Collection line. The store in in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood.
Nordstrom Inc.plans to open It’s first Canadian stores in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa.
Reebok has opened its first Reebok Fit Hub in the United States, on Fifth Avenue at 37th Street in Manhattan. The 2,500 sq. ft. store is located on the top of a Reebok CrossFit Box gym.
Sears Holdings Corporation announced it intends to effect the separation of its Sears Hometown subsidiary on September 7, 2012.
Sears Holdings Corporation launched Scrubology store-within-a-store concepts in 91 Sears and Kmart stores nationwide.
Real Estate:
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. announced it plans to expand in the Philippines.
American Rag is looking to open a New York flagship. Aiming to open the store by spring 2013, the retailer is considering spaces ranging from 3,000 sq. ft. to 17,000 sq. ft.
The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. said that it plans to close its Carson’s store in the River Oaks Mall in Calumet City, Ill., when the lease expires in January.
Cabela’s Inc. announced plans for new stores, including its first-ever locations in Virginia and Delaware. Construction is expected to begin on the new locations in 2013, with the stores expected to open in 2014. Cabela’s said it will build an 85,000 sq. ft. store in The Falls, in Bristol, VA and a 100,000 sq. ft. store adjacent to Christiana Mall in Christiana, DE. Cabela’s Inc. plans to build a 50,000 sq. ft. store in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada in the new Grasslands Shopping Centre. The new store is expected to in fall 2013 or spring 2014.
Chico’s will open a 2,369 sq. ft. Soma Intimates store this fall at Will Grove Park, located in Willow Grove, PA.
Dick’s Sporting Goods opened stores in Bluffton, SC, Clovis, CA, and Oxnard, CA.
Dots LLC announced that it plans to grow into a 1,000-store national fashion retailer.
DSW Inc. has opened stores in Mesquite, TX, and West Covina, CA. DSW Inc. announced the opening of a new store at Coldwater and Coliseum in Fort Wayne, IN. The company plans to open 27 new stores in the second half of the year.
The Gymboree Corp. will open a 2,505 sq. ft. Crazy 8 store this fall at Moorestown Mall in Moorestown, NJ.
Hibbett Sports is on track to open 55 to 60 new stores by the end of fiscal 2013. The company also plans to expand approximately 15 high-performing stores and close up to 18 underperforming stores by the end of the fiscal year.
Joe’s Jeans Inc. has opened a 2,700 sq. ft. West Coast flagship store on Melrose Place in Los Angeles.
Nordstrom Inc.will open its outlet format Nordstrom Rack at The Newbury in Boston’s Back Bay area. The bi-level, 38,000 sq. ft. store is scheduled to open in spring 2013. It will replace the former Filene’s Basement space.
Nordstrom Inc.plans to open full-line stores in The Woodlands, TX, and Jacksonville, FL in fall 2014.
PVH Corp. will open its first freestanding Calvin Klein location in Alberta, Canada. The 10,000 sq. ft. store will be located at the Cross Iron Mills Shopping Centre. It will be the fifth Calvin Klein lifestyle location to open in Canada, with a total of approximately 40 stores planned for the next five years.
Saks Inc. will open its ninth Texas location of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH. The new 27,548 sq. ft. store will be located in Grand Prairie at the new Paragon Outlets. The company also announced it will close its Highland Park, IL store located in Renaissance Place, and its Austin, TX store located in the Arboretum Market. Both stores are slated to close on Dec. 31.
Spanx is gearing up to expand into standalone branded stores, starting with the U.S., in the fourth quarter. Three stores are scheduled to open in October located in Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. There is also a Spanx store slated for the international terminal at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport.
JoS. A. Bank Clothiers launched Josbankformal.com, a new tuxedo rental website that will allow couples to register their weddings and communicate with a wedding party through emails or text messaging.
