Strategy

COLUMBUS, Ohio — DSW is raising its full-year earnings guidance and accelerating new store openings following strong November and December sales results.

The company said it has raised its annual diluted earnings per share guidance to a range of $2.96 to $2.99 for fiscal 2011 from a range of $2.90 to $2.95, excluding any impact from the RVI merger and related items.  

Cincinnati -- Brixmor Property Group said Monday that a 4,267-sq.-ft. Carter's recently opened at Western Hills Plaza, located in Cincinnati.

Brixmor, headquartered in New York City, is the owner of Western Hills Plaza.

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney announced that Thomas Engibous will become chairman of its board of directors on Jan. 28.  Engibous was named to the board in 1999 and has served in presiding director and lead independent director roles since 2008.  He will assume the chairman's role from Myron Ullman, III, JCPenney's former chief executive officer, who will step down as executive chairman.

New York City -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said Monday it has hired Joseph C. French Jr. to serve as a senior director of its National Retail Group. French was previously with Sperry Van Ness, where he specialized in retail property sales.

Marcus & Millichap also hired French’s team of investment specialists Thomas C. Dalzell, Schuyler Boylan and Amie Segel.
 

New York City -- Shopping centers in the United States had their first net gain in occupied space in four years amid a rise in consumer confidence and job growth, according real estate research firm Reis Inc., Bloomberg reported.

Neighborhood and community shopping shoppers saw a net increase of 3.18 million sq. ft. in the fourth quarter, the most since 10.1 million sq. ft. in the last three months of 2007.

New York City -- According to Chain Store Age columnist Jeff Green’s latest editorial, one of the most noteworthy trends of this holiday season was the robust performance of independent retailers.

What could this mean for retail real estate? Click here to read more.

New York City -- Discovery Communications said Tuesday that Liz Claiborne Inc. CFO Andrew Warren is joining the company as finance chief.

Warren will succeed Brad Singer, who said last year he would depart Discovery at the end of March.

Liz Claiborne recently disclosed that Warren was leaving the company, saying he was pursuing an opportunity "in the media industry."
 

River Grove, Ill. -- Chuck Follett, president and CEO of Follett Corp., announced his decision to retire after 38 years of service with the company. Follett is the leading operator of college bookstores, and also a major distributor of physical and digital educational materials and services to primary, secondary and university level institutions.

Follett’s board of directors has initiated a search for Follett's successor. Follett will remain the company's president and CEO until a successor is identified.