DATATRAC

Personnel Updates

• Chico’s FAS Inc. reported that Cynthia S. Murray, Chico’s brand president, is stepping down. The company also reported it has reduced its employee count by nearly 13%, or 200 positions.

• David’s Bridal announced its CEO Pam Wallack has left the company. She will be replaced by Chairman Paul Pressler.

• Eloquii Design Inc. announced it has named Michael Concannon as Chief Technology Officer and Melissa Weiss as Chief Marketing Officer and Exec VP Direct-to-Consumer. She was most recently Senior VP Marketing with J. Crew Group.

• Holt Renfrew announced Steven Cook, Chief Merchant, will be leaving the company. Incoming President Mario Grauso will assume the Chief Merchant role.

• Macy’s Inc. announced it has named Richard Lennox as its new Chief Marketing Officer, following the departure of Martine Reardon.

• The Neiman Marcus Group has cut about 80 jobs as part of a reorganization it’s been working on the past two years that combines online and store operations.

• Tiffany & Co. announced it has hired Mark Erceg to become its next Exec VP and CFO, effective Oct. 18.

• Tilly’s Co. has appointed Jon Kubo to serve in the company’s newly created position of Chief Digital Officer.

Financial Focus

• Aeropostale Inc. won court permission to sell its assets to buyers led by Simon Property Group Inc. and General Growth Properties Inc., and plans to keep at least 229 stores open.

• Golfsmith International Inc. announced it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

• Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy with the help of private equity firm Golden Gate Capital.

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. announced it has acquired San Diego-based sports management technology company Affinity Sports.

Industry Insight

• Belk Inc. is opening a freestanding location for its private-label brand Crown & Ivy. The brand will open a store at Crabtree Valley Mall, Raleigh, N.C.

• Cartier Inc. is preparing to unveil its remodeled flagship on New York City’s Fifth Avenue that doubled the store’s space to 44,000 sq. ft., making it the retailer’s largest store in the world.

• J. Crew Group Inc. will start selling an assortment of women’s clothes at Nordstrom stores. J. Crew will introduce the collection in 16 Nordstrom locations, as well as the department store’s website.

• Kohl’s Corporation has completed its goal of developing beauty departments in all of its stores. Ranging in size from 670 to 1,000 sq. ft., the departments feature a wide array of displays. The company also announced it will open a new distribution center in Plainfield, IN in summer 2017

• Lands’ End Inc. has announced plans to offer a limited selection of products through Amazon.com beginning later this month.

• Macy’s Inc. announced its flagship location in New York’s Herald Square will become the first U.S. department store to open an Apple shop. The collaboration will launch this October.

• Nordstrom Inc. is extending its in-store boutique, Space, to four additional stores (including sites in Los Angeles, Nashville, and Toronto), which will double the number of locations since it was launched one year ago.

• Sears is launching an in-store shop concept, called Showcase at Sears, which will feature 10 European and Latin America apparel brands, most available for the first time in the United States.

• Victoria’s Secret has entered the Mexican market with a new 10,760 sq. ft. flagship store in Mexico City.

Real Estate

• DSW Inc. has announced plans to launch 21 news stores across the country this fall.

• Flip Flop Shops is introducing a new kiosk format. Measuring approximately 300 sq. ft. and built in the shape of a giant flip flop, the concept is slated for national rollout.

• Gander Mountain announced it opened its first store in the Philadelphia area. The 52,700 sq. ft. store opened on Sept. 8 at the Warrington Crossing development in Warrington, PA.

• Pendleton Woolen Mills has opened its latest location in downtown Seattle, WA.

• Perry Ellis International Inc. said that it would close 15 underperforming stores, or about a fifth of its store base.

• Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th is set to open its first-ever locations in Canada’s Alberta province, a 31,900 sq. ft. store at South Edmonton Common in Edmonton, and a 30,000 sq. ft. store at CrossIron Mills in Rocky View.

• Under Armour Inc. has announced plans to launch a 1.3 million sq. ft. distribution and warehouse complex in Sparrows Point, MD in the summer of 2018.

• Vera Bradley, Inc. announced it will open a new two-level, 2,700-sq.-ft. store in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. This is the first store for the retailer in the New York City market.

• Warby Parker is preparing to open a shop in downtown Detroit, MI.

Technology News

• Aerogroup International LLC announced it has launched its new Aerosoles interactive online catalog.

• The Neiman Marcus Group introduced Sunglass Memory Mirrors, offering customers a chance to record their looks with camera-equipped mirrors. Created in partnership with Luxottica North America, the mirrors allow users to share photos or videos on social media or via email.