Personnel Updates:
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. appointed Fran Horowitz as President of its Hollister brand.
American Apparel has appointed Scott Brubaker as Interim CEO and Hassan Natha as Exec VP and CFO, following John Luttrell’s resignation. The company also announced the promotions of long-time employees Patricia Honda and Nicolle Gabbay to the positions of President of Wholesale and President of Retail, respectively.
Coach, Inc. announced that Lew Frankfort, Executive Chairman, will retire in November 2014. The company intends to bestow upon him the honorary title of Chairman Emeritus at that time. The company also announced that it anticipates that Jide Zeitlin, currently lead outside director, will be appointed the next Chairman of the Board.
Columbia Sportswear Company announced two additions to its global leadership team. Steve Woodside joined Columbia in the newly-created role of VP of Global Manufacturing. Stuart Redsun was appointed to the newly-created position of Chief Marketing Officer. In related moves, Columbia announced the pending retirements of current VP of Global Marketing, Dan Hanson, and current VP of Global Apparel Manufacturing, Patrick Werner.
Gap Inc. has appointed a new CEO. Art Peck, currently President of the company’s growth, innovation and digital division, will succeed Glenn Murphy effective Feb. 1, 2015. As part of the transition, Bob Fisher will become non-executive chairman of the board.
Hibbett Sports has promoted Jared Briskin to Senior VP and Chief Merchant. Briskin replaces Rebecca Jones, who recently left the company.
JCPenney announced Marvin Ellison will become President on November 1 and succeed Mike Ullman as CEO next August.
Oscar de la Renta announced it had named Peter Copping as Creative Director. The esteemed fashion designer, Oscar de la Renta, passed away at the age of 82.
Sears Canada Inc. announced that Douglas C. Campbell, President and Chief Executive Officer intends to resign by the end of this calendar year.
Sears Holdings Corp. has announced that Ronald Boire, Exec VP, Chief Merchandising Officer has left the company. Boire has been appointed to the role of acting President and CEO for Sears Canada.
The Men’s Wearhouse announced Mary Beth Blake has been promoted to the position of President and Chief Merchandising Officer. The company also announced Scott Norris has been named Men’s Wearhouse Brand and Moores Brand President and Paul Fitzpatrick has been named Jos. A. Bank’s Brand President. Additionally, Jim Thorne was named Exec VP of Direct Sourcing.
Tory Burch announced it has hired Ralph Lauren veteran Roger Farah as Co-CEO of the company.
VF Corporation has promoted Scott A. Roe to CFO. The company also announced that Senior VP & CFO Robert K. Shearer will retire in March 2015.
Wet Seal Inc. is welcoming back Jon Kubo, this time as Exec VP and Chief Digital Officer, a newly created position. The company also announced its CFO Steven Benrubi has resigned.
Wet Seal Inc. said it plans to reduce head count at its corporate offices by 24% and field-management level positions by 20%. The company plans to eliminate a total of 78 jobs, which include some open positions. The cuts include 66 corporate office positions and 12 field management level posts.
Wolverine Worldwide has promoted Rick Blackshaw to President, Sperry Top-Sider, and Chris Lindner to President, Keds. The company also announced Melissa A. Howell was appointed Senior VP of Global Human Resources.
Financial Focus:
Boot Barn has filed an initial registration form to go public.
Jimmy Choo announced that it planned to pursue an initial public offering later this year in London. The company is expected to sell at least a 25 percent stake of its new holding company, Jimmy Choo Limited, in an offering that could value the company at about 700 million pounds, or about $1.1 billion.
Mergers and Acquisitions:
Lids Sports Group has acquired Jersey City Canada, a licensed sports apparel, headwear and novelty company operating 28 retail stores across four Canadian Provinces.
Neiman Marcus Group announced an agreement to acquire global online luxury business, mytheresa.com.
Industry Insight:
Aeropostale Inc. plans to launch the Aeropostale and P.S. from Aeropostale brands in Chile. The company’s first Aeropostale store is scheduled to open in Parque Arauco in Santiago in October. P.S. from Aeropostale stores are expected to open beginning in early 2015.
Ann Inc. recently opened its first LOFT store in Mexico, continuing the company’s international expansion. The store is located in the Antea Lifestyle Center in Queretaro, with additional locations planned for later this year in Mexico City’s Parque Toreo Mall and Puebla’s Angelopolis Mall.
Boscov’s, a Reading, Pa.-based department store retailer, turned 100 with 43 stores in six states, $1 billion in annual sales and the distinction of being one of the few U.S. family-run retail chains still standing.
Brown Shoe Company has invested in Jack Erwin, a men’s brand that offers high-quality, handmade men’s shoes directly to consumers.
Christopher & Banks is continuing to consolidate its plus-size-focused CJ Banks standalone stores into its Christopher & Banks locations. The company will have converted 190 stores to the new Missy-Women-Petite model by the end of the year.
Juicy Couture announced it will open 20 stores in India over the next five years, with the first location slated to open in fall 2015.
Kohl’s Corp. says it will hire more than 67,000 seasonal workers nationwide for the holiday shopping season, about a third more than last year’s 50,000.
Nordstrom Inc. has opened its first international store, located at Chinook Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The two-level, 140,000 sq. ft. store features a full-service restaurant and an enhanced beauty experience.
Toys “R” Us will open in-store Claire’s shops in 12 U.S. stores and expand the partnership to about 100 locations in Europe after successful tests there.
Uniqlo said it would expand the range of items in its kids’ and babies’ collection by 50 percent, aiming to bring it on par with its men’s and women’s lines.
Urban Outfitters plans to supersize some of its Anthropologie stores with more lifestyle merchandise. The company expects to open 25 to 50 Anthropologie stores in the next five years that will be three times larger than current locations, which average approximately 7,100 sq. ft. The larger stores will feature expanded home goods, wedding, beauty and intimates offerings in more of a “destination” atmosphere. Urban Outfitters also is looking to test the larger format for its namesake and Free People chains.
Real Estate:
Athleta will open a new store in Alpharetta, GA, on Oct. 28. The store will be located on Avalon Boulevard.
Bon-Ton plans to close its Bon-Ton store in the Clearview Mall in Butler, PA, and its Elder-Beerman store in the Raleigh Mall in Beckley, WV. The company will not renew these leases, which terminate Jan. 31, 2015.
Brown Shoe Company Inc. recently opened a Sam Edelman store in Los Angeles, CA, marking its West Coast debut. The 3,500 sq. ft. space is located at 342 N. Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills.
Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. opened four new Field & Stream stores Oct. 10 in Rochester, NY, Horseheads, NY, Miamisburg, OH, and Altoona, PA. The company also announced four new store openings in Orlando, FL, Nampa, ID, Richmond, KY, and Roseville, MI. The newest Dicks Sporting Goods stores will open on Oct. 24.
Esco Ltd. will open five new Shoe City stores in the mid-Atlantic, with four in Greater Baltimore. The shoe store will move into new locations in Eastpoint Mall, in Baltimore’s Erdman Shopping Center, at the King Shopping Center in Landover and in Edgewater Village Shopping Center. Shoe City will take 6,719 square feet at Eastpoint Mall, 5,200 square feet at Erdman Shopping Center, 6,300 square feet at King Shopping Center, and 5,040 square feet at Edgewater Village Shopping Center.
Hudson’s Bay Co. announced plans to open eight new stores during the third quarter of fiscal 2014. HBC expects to open a Lord & Taylor store in Albany, NY, and Off 5th stores in Eagan, MN, Costa Mesa, CA, and Columbus, OH. A Hudson’s Bay Outlet is also planned for Mirabel, QC. Additionally, HBC will open a Saks Fifth Avenue store in fall 2016 at Brickell City Centre in downtown Miami, FL, as well as Saks Fifth Avenue stores in San Juan, PR, in spring 2015 and in Honolulu, HI in spring 2016. The company also announced it has signed a lease to open an 85,000 sq. ft. Saks Fifth Avenue store in Brookfield Place at 225 Liberty Street and a 55,000 sq. ft. Saks Off 5th store at One Liberty Plaza in Lower Manhattan.
Lane Bryant opened its inaugural Cacique Lifestyle store in Jersey City, NJ, on Oct. 10.
L.L. Bean Inc. will open its first Colorado store at the Park Meadows mall in November. The 13,000 square feet store will have its grand opening on Nov. 21.
Lord & Taylor opened a new 100,000 sq. ft. store at the mall in Guilderland, NY.
Lululemon Althletica signed a pair of leases on two corners facing each other at Prince and Wooster streets in the Soho area of New York City. One will be the retailer’s first store just for men.
Maurices announced plans to open sixteen locations before November 10. The company contends the U.S. and Canada can support more than 1,300 locations.
Michael Kors opened a new 1,600 square foot store in Kings’ Shops at Waikoloa Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii.
REI will open a new Los Angeles store in fall 2015. The 30,000 sq. ft., two-story store will be located at the Village at Westfield Topanga.
Robert Graham opened a new store in The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota, FL.
Saks Fifth Avenue plans to open a full-line Saks store in San Juan, PR. The approximately 100,000 sq. ft., multi-level store is slated to open March 26, 2015.
Sportsman’s Warehouse is expanding its operations to include new retail locations in Sheridan, CO, and Flagstaff, AZ. Slated to open in summer 2015, these locations are part of the eight new stores that Sportsman’s Warehouse plans to open next year.
The Buckle opened a new store at Friendly Center in Greensboro, NC.
Under Armour announced plans to build a new one million square foot distribution and warehouse facility in Mount Juliet, TN scheduled to open in early 2016.
Technology News:
Lands’ End Business Outfitters has launched a new online customer shopping experience at business.landsend.com, which lets business customers do everything from see how their logo looks on a selected fabric to manage account information and accessing order history.
Macy’s, Inc. announced that it will be implementing the largest beacon technology rollout of all time. The company is expanding its partnership with shopkick, and Macy’s stores nationwide have incorporated the shopBeacon technology.
Sears has expanded its In-Vehicle Pickup curbside service to included returns and exchanges. The new integrated retail service, powered by the Shop Your Way mobile app, lets members pick up, return or exchange their purchases free, guaranteed in five minutes or less, without having to leave their vehicles.
Vera Bradley will be deploying consumer behavior insights and location-based analytics provider ShopperTrak’s Perimeter Analytics tool at each of its new U.S. stores this year, with plans to roll out the service across all corporate stores in the coming year.
