International Business

Crocs Inc. has a new interim finance chief after its CFO resigned to take the same position at West Marine.

Jeff Lasher, who joined Crocs in 2009 and was named chief financial officer in 2011, will remain with the company through early November. Lasher plans to join West Marine, Inc. as chief financial officer in November.

Markdowns and the costs of expansion hurt Lululemon profits in the second quarter, but the athleisure retailer did post an impressive jump in same store sales.

Kip Tindell, co-founder, chairman and CEO of The Container Store, has joined a global list of who’s who in retailing.

New York -- Fast-fashion giant H&M is expanding its upscale store brand, Cos, in the United States.

Cos, known for its minimalist-styled fashions, will open its first store in Boston, on Newbury Street on Sept. 25. The new space, the brand’s third location in the United States, will offer womenswear and menswear collections with 2,960 sq. ft. of sales area, spread across two floors.

San Diego - PriceSmart Inc. demonstrated intelligence when it comes to sales in August 2015. The U.S.-based operator of warehouse club stores in the Caribbean and Latin America increased net sales 13% to $232.7 million from $206.7 million in August a year earlier.

Same-store sales rose 3%. PriceSmart will release fourth quarter and fiscal year 2015 results on Oct. 29.
 

Niwot, Colo. -- Footwear marketer Crocs is on the hunt for a new CFO.

The company announced that Jeff Lasher, senior VP and CFO, is leaving the company to join boating supplies and accessories retailer West Marine Inc.

Lasher, who joined Crocs in 2009, will remain with the company through early November. He plans to join West Marine as CFO in November.

Mike Smith, Crocs senior VP for finance, has been named interim CFO effective Oct. 1 and will work closely with Lasher during a transition period.

Starbucks Coffee Company's first store in Panama is located in Panama City, in the Street Mall shopping center. With a 28-ft. high ceiling, the focal point of the 3,304-sq.-ft. store is a one-of-a-kind custom made hanging mobile, designed to represent the Geisha coffee plant, which signifies the birth of the coffee industry in Panama.

New York -- An Irish fast-fashion leader is getting ready to make its U.S. debut.

Primark, known for its value prices and on-trend fashions for the entire family, leased a 677,000-sq.-ft. distribution center to support its entry into the United States.

Leading European apparel retailer Primark is so confident its brand of fast fashion will appeal to American shoppers it has leased a 677,000-sq.-ft. distribution center to support its new stores opening this month.

The first Primark store opens on Sept. 10 in Boston and will be followed by a second opening in November at the King of Prussia mall in Philadelphia. Six additional openings are planned before year end in Burlington and Braintree, Mass., Danbury, Conn., Freehold, N.J., Willow Grove, Pa. and Staten Island.

Los Angeles -- The nation’s largest privately held specialty premium coffee and tea retailer has a new chief.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf named John Fuller as its new president and CEO. For the past five years, he served as president and CEO of The Johnny Rockets Group, where he directed operations for the multi-million dollar global restaurant chain, which spans 28 countries with 338 locations. Fuller left Johnny Rockets earlier this year.