Marketing

Lululemon Athletica Inc. will have to get along without the advice of its controversial founder, who announced he is stepping down from the company's board.

Chip Wilson, a sometimes controversial figure who helped build the Canadian yogawear retailer into an international success story, said he was resigning from the company's board.

"I believe that now is the right time to step away," Wilson said in a statement.

Wilson, who founded Lululemon in 1998, withdrew from day-to-day management in early 2012, and stepped down as chairman in late 2013.

Dick’s Sporting Goods is expanding the responsibilities of its CFO.

The company says that in addition to serving as EVP/CFO, Andre J. Hawaux has been appointed as executive vice president, chief operating officer. In addition to his existing responsibilities for finance, legal and information technology, Hawaux will also oversee store operations, real estate and human resources.

Carle Place, N.Y. – The September 2014 closing of its acquisition of the Harry & David brand helped produce extremely strong performance during the second quarter of fiscal 2015 at 1-800-Flowers.com Inc. The retailer reported net income of $45.54 million, more than double the $17.99 million reported in the same quarter a year earlier.

Minneapolis — Target Corp. is opening 15 stores this year, with an emphasis on its smaller-sized TargetExpress format as it looks to further reach guests in urban centers. The discounter will open eight TargetExpress locations, one CityTarget and six general merchandise stores.

Target stated that its strategic store growth is focused on reaching guests in urban centers with new formats like TargetExpress and CityTarget, while also offering new experiences, merchandising layouts and innovations in its general merchandise stores.

New York -- Swedish fast-fashion giant Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) is in full expansion mode. Along with reporting a 17% increase in fiscal 2014 profits, the company said it plans to open 400 stores in 2015, with most of the openings in the United States and China. It will also enter several new markets, including India and South Africa.  

In other news, H&M is launching a new beauty concept, H&M Beauty, with an initial debut in about 900 stores and online, starting in fall 2015.

Columbus, Ohio - DSW Inc. is shifting titles and responsibilities to its executive ranks, with all changes effective Feb. 2. Carrie McDermott, currently executive VP, sales and operations, will be appointed executive VP and COO.  

In addition, Bill Jordan, currently executive VP and general counsel, will be appointed executive VP and chief administrative officer, adding IT to his portfolio of responsibilities.

New York -- In a new type of retail disruption, London’s must buzzed-about department store, Selfridges, plans to remove the men’s and women’s departments on the three floors of its Oxford Street flagship from mid- March to the end of April, replacing them with unisex or gender-neutral shops.  
 

New York -- Jones New York announced that it will close its 127 outlet stores and discontinue its wholesale business over the course of 2015.

The company said that it made the decision after a review of recent performance and outlook. Jones also said it will pursue strategic alternatives for the brand, which has long been a staple in mid-priced department stores. Its appeal, however, faded in recent years as department stores expanded their private label offerings.