Strategy

Nine West Holdings has entered into an agreement to purchase a 30-years plus women’s apparel company.     Nine West said it has used the net proceeds from the December 2016 sale of its Easy Spirit wholesale business to purchase the Kasper Group. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.        The Kasper Group's apparel is sold under its flagship Kasper and other well-known brand names.    

Retail sales weren’t the only thing that rose during the 2016 holiday season.    Fraud attempts increased by 31% during the past holiday season, according to data from ACI Worldwide, which, on the positive side, found the number of overall transactions increased by 16%.   

Jeff Katkowsky, VP with Sachse Construction, will share his insights and experiences as part of a panel focused on overcoming obstacles during closeouts at SPECS/2017.  

Luxottica Group, the leading eyeglass retailer with multiple U.S. store banners, has entered into a deal that would create a global giant in the optical industry.   Luxottica, whose brands include LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, Oliver Peoples, and Pearle Vision, will merge with lens-maker Essilor International of France in a deal valued at $49 billion. The merger brings together the industry’s largest manufacturer with its leading retailer.    

Christopher & Banks Corp. on Tuesday announced the departure of its CEO, effective January 17, 2017, and also lowered its fourth quarter guidance after a dismal holiday season.    The women’s apparel retailer said LuAnn Via, president and CEO, has departed the company. Also out: board chairwoman Lisa Wardell.  

CVC Capital Partners has agreed to sell Leslie's Holdings to L Catterton and an affiliate of GIC.       The financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.   Founded in 1963, Leslie's is the world's largest retailer of swimming pool supplies and related products.   

Bankrupt American Apparel has started the final, most painful chapter in its drawn out saga.   Approximately 2,400 employees of bankrupt American Apparel will soon be out of a job as the company begins to close or sell its three factories in Southern California, reported The Los Angeles Times.    

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer with nearly 1.5 million associates, plans to add 10,000 new retail jobs in its upcoming fiscal year, which begins on February 1, 2017.   The discounter says the new jobs will be created through the opening of 59 new, expanded and relocated Walmart and Sam’s Club facilities as well as e-commerce services.