Strategy

New York -- Uniqlo will open a location in Westfield Garden State Plaza shopping center, Paramus, N.J., on Sept. 28. The new store will occupy a 43,000-sq.-ft. space with two levels, and feature a separate dedicated entrance and a prominent façade. It will serve as the prototype for Uniqlo’s mall expansion strategy.

Leading up to the opening, beginning Aug. 27 and continuing through Sept. 27, Uniqlo will operate a temporary store at the mall. The pop-up, designed to resemble a futuristic cube, will be located at the food court.

Brisbane, Calif. -- Women's apparel retailer Bebe stores Inc. said Emilia Fabricant, president, has resigned from the company for personal reasons.

Her duties have been taken over by chairman and CEO Manny Mashouf and Renee Bell, the company's head of merchandising. Fabricant joined the company in August 2010.

The company runs 246 stores under the Bebe and 2b Bebe names.
 

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart announced it is bringing back layaway a month early this holiday season. The program will be available nationwide Sept. 16 through Dec. 14.

“Last year, millions of Americans relied on layaway at Walmart to provide a great Christmas for their families. Because of their feedback, we're offering the service again this year and making it better than ever," said Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising and marketing officer, Walmart U.S.

LONDON & ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Unilever has completed the sale of its North America frozen meals business, conducted under the Bertolli and P.F. Chang’s brand names, to ConAgra Foods Inc., for total cash consideration of $267 million, subject to adjustment.

Dallas -- PeopleAnswers announced a software licensing agreement with Boston Market to use the PeopleAnswers HR solution to help identify and select all field employees in its 476 locations across the United States.

Mooresville, N.C.-based Lowe’s posted declines in net sales, comp-store sales and earnings in the second quarter ended Aug. 3.

“Our results fell short of our overall expectations,” said Robert Niblock, Lowe’s chairman, president and CEO. “However, I have confidence in our strategy and in our employees, and while we recognize the significant magnitude of change that we’ve asked the organization to absorb as we transform our business, we fully understand that we must improve our level of execution.”

Indianapolis -- The Finish Line announced that Amber Vanes has been appointed VP planning and allocation.

Vanes has been with Finish Line for seven years, most recently serving as senior buyer/DMM for The Running Specialty Group, which Finish Line acquired last year.

Philadelphia -- Urban Outfitters Inc.’s profit for the second quarter rose 8% to $61.3 million from $56.7 million in the year-ago period, helped by strong sales as its namesake stores.

Total company net sales for the quarter, ended July 31, rose by 11% over the same quarter last year to $676 million. Same-store net sales, which include the direct-to-consumer channel, increased 4% for the quarter, while comparable store net sales decreased 1%.