J. Jill

Vera Bradley Inc. has hired an executive with the Fossil Group to be its new chief marketing officer.

Vera Bradley announced that Theresa Palermo has been named CMO and will join the company on June 22. 

Lakewood, Colorado - Colorado Mills, the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in the state, in conjunction with the full-priced Denver West Village located on the Colorado Mills campus, is introducing a Dine and Discover program, allowing restaurant goers to Colorado Mills or Denver West Village participating eateries to claim gift cards for continued shopping at some of Colorado Mills’ retail store.  

New retail space in 2013 was once again heavy on redevelopment, expansion and outlet centers

Year five and, once again, too few square feet in ground-up shopping center construction to rank the “Fastest-Growing Developers” as has been the Chain Store Age tradition for the 20 years prior.

Today, developers seem fated to redevelop and expand existing centers, develop 300,000-sq.-ft. to 600,000-sq.-ft. outlet centers and perhaps add an occasional grocery-anchored infill center.

Sherman Oaks, Calif. -- Brand management company Cherokee Inc. said Thursday that it has acquired the Liz Lange Maternity and Completely Me brands from LLM Management Co., an affiliate of Bluestar Alliance, for about $14 million, effective Sept. 4.

QUINCY, Mass. — J. Jill, a leading multi-channel specialty retailer of women's apparel based in Quincy, Mass., announced that it has appointed Scott Edmonds to its board of directors.

Edmonds most recently was the chairman and CEO of Chico's FAS, where he led the company's growth from $155 million in sales and 200 locations to $1.5 billion and 1,076 locations over a ten year period.

New York City -- Private equity firm Golden Gate Capital Corp. agreed to sell a majority stake in J. Jill to Arcapita Bank BSC, a Bahrain-based investment bank, less than two years after buying the company. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Golden Gate will remain a minority shareholder in the company. J. Jill President and CEO Paula Bennett will continue to lead the chain.

Golden Gate bought J. Jill in June 2009 from The Talbots for about $75 million.
 

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp., a provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, said Tuesday it has signed a new, long-term agreement to provide private label credit-card services to women’s apparel retailer J.Jill.