Personnel Updates
Chico’s FAS announced that CEO and President David F. Dyer intends to retire in spring 2016.
Dick’s Sporting Goods named Teri List-Stoll Exec VP and CFO. She will join the company in August 2015. Andre Hawaux will relinquish his CFO responsibilities.
Hudson’s Bay Company has appointed Dan Caspersen as Chief of Human Resources.
The Men’s Wearhouse, Inc. has named Ben Baum as Exec VP and Chief Digital Officer.
Neiman Marcus Group announced Donald T. Grimes as Exec VP, COO and CFO. Jim Skinner will continue to be part of the company’s management team in the newly created role of Vice Chairman.
Nike Inc. announced Jim Scholefield will become CIO on June 29.
True Religion Apparel Inc. has named John Ermatinger CEO. Current CEO David Conn is stepping down.
Vera Bradley announced that Theresa Palermo has been named Chief Marketing Officer and will join the company on June 22.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Boot Barn Holdings announced it will acquire Sheplers. The company plans to rebrand the 25 Sheplers stores to the Boot Barn banner.
Industry Insight
Fashion retailers Zara, Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer, Uniqlo and Pandora are the latest to sign on as Downtown Disney continues its expansion into Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort.
Blue Nile has opened its first freestanding store. The 325 sq. ft. space is located at Roosevelt Field Mall, Garden City, NY.
Gap Inc. has opened its first Gap store in India. The 10,000 sq. ft. flagship store is located in the Select City Walk in south Delhi.
Kohl’s Corp. confirmed reports that it will soon begin testing a highly discounted format, called “Off Aisle by Kohl’s,” with a store set to open in early June in Cherry Hill, NJ.
Macy’s Inc. is piloting an in-home tailoring service for clothes that shoppers buy on its web sites.
Real Estate
Charming Charlie has unveiled its first New York City flagship store. The three-level 16,000 sq. ft. flagship store will be located on Fifth Avenue. The company also announced the first Charming Charlie stores are scheduled to open in the Philippines in late 2015.
Gander Mountain opened new 61,000 sq. ft. stores in El Paso, TX on May 26 and O’Fallon, IL on May 28.
Macy’s Inc. announced two more pilot store locations in metro New York City for its new off-price format, Macy’s Backstage. The additional stores brings to six the total number of Macy’s Backstage for launch. All are expected to open in fall 2015 and average about 30,000 sq. ft. The added locations are at Fordham Place in The Bronx, and Essex Green Shopping Center, West Orange, NJ, where an existing Macy’s store will be converted to Macy’s Backstage.
Robert Graham is opening a retail store in Phipps Plaza in Atlanta, GA in July.
Saks Inc. opened a new 40,500-square-foot Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th store at 901 Market St. in San Francisco, CA on May 28.
Shoe Carnival expects to open 18 to 19 new stores and close 10 to 14 stores in fiscal 2015.
Technology News
Neiman Marcus Group customers will be able to purchase items through the new “Buyable Pins” e-commerce service across Pinterest later in June.
Nordstrom Inc. is launching a text-based shopping service called TextStyle at all 116 U.S. stores. Customers can now make curated purchases from their salesperson or personal stylist using text messaging.
