Mall-based children’s wear retailers are in international growth mode. The Children’s Place Retail Stores Inc. announced recently that it will franchise stores in Israel.  The first Children’s Place stores are expected to open in the first quarter of 2014. Aeropostale Inc., a chain targeting pre-teens, is planning to launch in Mexico soon. The company signed a licensing agreement with a Mexican department store chain, and intends to open shop-in-shops within their department stores beginning this summer. Aeropostale also plans to open some standalone stores, the first of which will open in Mexico City.

Other retailers that sell children’s wear are also expanding in new international markets. Gap Inc. will open its first Brazilian stores in Sao Paulo this fall, followed by a Rio de Janeiro location. The company expects to have a presence in eight Latin American countries by the end of 2013, with expectations to add a brand presence in Costa Rica in the near future. Gap Inc.’s expansion plans include up to 20 Old Navy stores in Japan and 35 Gap stores in China.  Abercrombie & Fitch recently announced plans to enter the Australian market. The company will open two Hollister stores in the country this year.

All of these top retailers are found in Chain Store Guide’s database of Apparel Specialty Stores. Expansion information on these retailers include the company’s planned projected openings, closing and remodelings and projected areas of expansion. For more information on what Chain Store Guide has to offer, please see www.chainstoreguide.com.