Accessories

Ralph Lauren Corp. has named a 25-year Proctor & Gamble executive to head up its ongoing turnaround effort.     The company appointed Patrice Louvet as president and CEO, effective July 17, 2017. At the time, he will also be appointed to the board. Louvet will dual report to founder Ralph Lauren in his capacity as executive chairman and to the company’s board.  

While handbags and purses have historically been considered a “risky gift,” times are a’ changin.’   In fact, handbags and purses were the most popular gift for Mother’s Day 2017, representing six of the top 10 gifts for the holiday. Overall, the accessories category led the top gifts purchased for Mother’s Day, according to data from Loop Commerce. Results were based on sales made on the company’s GiftNow platform.  

Inland Real Estate Acquisitions has purchased an 85-unit residential property with ground floor retail in Vernon Hills, Illinois.   Constructed in 2010, The Commons at Town Center is a six-story structure consisting of 85 multifamily units and 10,609-sq.-ft of retail space. Current tenants are Sam Martirano Salon & Spa, Hawthorn Dental Associates, Eight Piece Rolls, Design Studio Jewelry, and Giuseppe’s Pizza Restaurant.   

Sarah Jessica Parker is expanding her brick-and-mortar retail business.   The actress, producer, and designer will open her second freestanding store, in Las Vegas. The SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker store will be located at the Bellagio Resort & Casino and open this summer.   

Nine West Holdings is taking action to deal with its debt.  

Coach has acquired a brand with a strong following among millennials.   The luxury handbag company on Monday announced that it will acquire Kate Spade & Company for $18.50 per share in cash, which represents a premium of 9% to Kate Spade's closing price on Friday. The deal, which has a total transaction value of $2.4 billion, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2017 and add to adjusted earnings in fiscal 2018.  

A pure player specializing in activewear for plus-size women is making the leap to the offline world.   Juno Active will open its first store this spring, at Mall of America, in Bloomington, Minn. The 3,200-sq.-ft. space will offer activewear and swimwear, starting at size 14, along with intimates.     Originally called Junonia, the company was founded in 1995 as a catalog operation. It rebranded itself as Juno Active in 2012, and switched to an exclusive online model.    

Indochino is growing its fledgling store footprint and has the U.S. market in its sights.   The Vancouver, Canada-based online retailer has opened its 13th store, at Metropolis in Metrotown in Burnaby, a suburb of Vancouver. The approximate 2,000-sq.-ft. store follows the recent openings of additional locations at West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, and Chinook Centre, Calgary.   

A brand new women’s contemporary apparel and accessories brand with a French aesthetic is moving fast out of the starting gate.   

The Aldo Group is making strides on its digital transformation journey.   The retailer has launched a new responsive website and e-commerce platform that will integrate retail online, in-store and mobile channels. The move comes as Aldo transitions leadership, with company founder Aldo Bensadoun naming his son, David Bensadoun, as the new CEO earlier this month.