Personnel Updates:
Crocs announced that Dale Bathum has been appointed Chief Product Officer, Mike DeBell has been named Chief Sales Officer and Doug Hayes has taken the role of President of the Americas market.
Eddie Bauer announced Dan Templin has joined the company as COO and CFO.
Kohl’s Department Stores plans to hire 1,200 seasonal workers for its Monroe, OH e-commerce fulfillment center.
Macy’s Inc. plans to hire about 80,000 seasonal workers this holiday season, a 2.5% increase from last year.
Lands’ End plans to cut nearly 200 jobs in Dodgeville, WI by the end of January.
Payless has named Paul Jones as CEO.
Stuart Weitzman appointed Nereo Friso as Consultant Director of Worldwide Distribution for the new SW1 brand, as well as Consultant for the Stuart Weitzman brand.
True Religion Brand Jeans announced Harriet Sustarsic will join the company as Senior VP, GMM.
Wet Seal named Lynda Davey as Chairman of the board.
Victoria’s Secret Beauty named Ralph Lauren Corp. executive Susie Coulter as the new President.
Financial Focus:
Bakers Footwear Group Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company plans to proceed with its plans to sell as many as 52 leases to shoe seller Aldo, close other stores and liquidate inventory from its shuttered locations.
Industry Insight:
Ascena Retail Group Inc. is planning a $34 million expansion that will add new equipment, systems and about 40,000 sq. ft. of space to its Greencastle, IN distribution facility.
Burberry officially unveiled its largest store as the first and only showcase of its entire merchandise line. The new London location, with 27,000 sq. ft. of selling space, will be a template for future Burberry stores, including the 14,920 sq. ft. store slated to open in Chicago, IL this November.
H&M has delayed the launch of its online shop in the U.S. as results fell short of analyst expectations.
Hugo Boss debuted a new concept store in Manhasset, NY. The 3,400 sq. ft. store is located at the Americana Manhasset.
JCPenney will debut Disney children’s boutiques in at least 520 stores next fall. The shops will range in size from 750 to 1,100 sq. ft.
Macy’s Inc. announced that it will open Finish Line-branded athletic footwear shops in more than 450 of its stores by fall 2014. Macy’s, Inc. also announced it signed an agreement to offer Toys“R”Us Express-branded departments in 24 Macy’s stores in major markets during this year’s holiday selling season.
Neiman Marcus and Elle magazine are pairing up for a multichannel brand launch of Elle Accessories that includes a biannually published magazine and ecommerce site.
North Face opened its first New Jersey store. The 6,500 sq. ft. store is in the Cherry Hill Mall.
Tween Brands will expand its in-store testing of boys’ apparel. The company will add Brothers at 20 more stores before the holiday season.
Von Maur Inc. has opened a new 4,500 sq. ft. Dry Goods location in Chicago. The next Dry Goods location will open at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines, IA this November.
Real Estate:
Burlington Coat Factory will open a three-level, 92,000 sq. ft. store at 4 Union Square South in New York City, NY. Burlington Coat plans to open 20 stores a year over the foreseeable future.
Cabela’s Inc. will open a Cabela’s Outpost Store in Kalispell, MT. Construction on the 42,000 sq. ft. location is scheduled to begin in spring 2013 and it is set to open in fall 2013.
DSW Inc. has opened four new stores, located in Sangertown Square Mall in New Hartford, NY, East Town Plaza in Madison, WI, the Plaza at Cedar Hill in Cedar Hill, TX, and in the Best Buy Shopping Center in Bridgewater, NJ.
Gap Inc. plans to open four Gap Outlet stores in China. The store openings are part of the company’s global growth strategy to have approximately 45 stores in China by the end of this fiscal year.
H&M has cut a deal to open in Manhattan’s Times Square. H&M will move into the three-floor, 42,510 sq. ft. space at 4 Times Square.
Kohl’s Department Stores opened 12 new stores nationwide in September, all featuring the chain’s updated store design. Eleven of the stores are smaller format locations, with some 64,000 sq. ft. or less of retail space.
Macy’s will build a two-level, 180,000 sq. ft. store at the Shops at Summerlin, in Las Vegas, NV which is expected to open in fall 2014. In addition, Macy’s will expand its presence in the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas, with a new two-level, 105,000 sq. ft. Macy’s Men’s Store to open in spring 2013.
New Era opened a flagship in New Orleans, LA at 838 Canal St.
Nordstrom announced plans to open three Nordstrom Rack stores including the retailer’s first location in the state of Wisconsin. The 36,000 sq. ft. store in Wauwatosa, WI, is scheduled to open in spring 2014. A 30,000 sq. ft. store in Ann Arbor, MI is scheduled to open in spring 2013, at Arborland Center and a 35,000 sq. ft. store in Columbus, OH is scheduled to open in fall 2013, at Easton Market.
Tumi Inc. has opened a 2,000 sq. ft. flagship store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, CA.
UNIQLO opened a store in Paramus, NJ, and its first West Coast store in San Francisco, CA. The bi-level, 43,000 sq. ft. New Jersey store will be the retailer’s biggest mall store in the world, and will serve as a prototype for future mall locations.
Technology News:
Saks Inc. launched AT&T Wi-Fi at all Saks Fifth Avenue locations nationwide.
Green Initiatives:
Kohl’s Department Stores has been recognized with a 2012 Sustained Excellence in Green Power Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Kohl’s purchased 1.5 billion kWh of green power in 2012 and generates more than 28 million kWh through its solar program, offsetting more than 100% of the company’s electricity use for the third consecutive year.
Sears Holdings has been honored with a SmartWay Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for being an industry leader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency.
