Accessories

New York – Macy’s Inc. is exclusively offering a line of high-tech-enabled wallets, briefcases and handbags from Royce Leather. The designer collection features the Royce Leather Freedom Briefcase; a security bag with DNA based fingerprint technology that enables a single user to access the bag.  

  New York - Online marketer Rent the Runway has signed a lease to open a store in Chicago. It will be the third freestanding store for the company, with one in New York City, and one in Washington, D.C. The company also operates a shop inside the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.   Rent the Runway  rents designer dresses for four days or eight days. Prices range from $30 to $450 for four-day rentals, depending on the dress. It also rents jewelry, handbags and other accessories. 

A sharper focus on merchandising and marketing netted positive results for Gymboree, as the company reported an increase in same store sales for the third quarter.

But the company did report a steep loss of $522.1 million, compared with a loss of $24 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Same store sales increased 1%. Net sales were $316.8 million, compared with $309.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2013.

Plenty of retailers talk about returning cash to shareholders, but none does so as aggressively as The Buckle which just announced a whopper of a special dividend.

The Kearney, Neb.-based operator of 463 stores said it would pay a $2.77 special dividend in addition to its regular quarterly dividend of 23 cents on Jan. 27 to shareholders of record on Jan. 15. It is the seventh consecutive year the debt-free specialty retailer of young men’s and women’s apparel has paid a special dividend on top of its quarterly payout.

Houston — In its surprise change of leadership, Francesca's Holdings Corp. named Michael W. Barnes as chairman, president and CEO, effective immediately. He joins Fancesca's after serving as CEO of Signet Jewelers since 2011, and leading the company’s $1.46 billion acquisition of Zale Corp. Barnes left the Ohio-based Signet in October, saying he wanted to be closer to his family in Dallas.  

Fort Wayne, Ind. - Vera Bradley has hired industry veteran-and former Saks executive— Harry Cunningham as head of store development, effective December 8, 2014.

Cunningham has nearly 25 years of experience in store design and visual  merchandising. He has been with Saks Fifth Avenue since 2006, most recently as senior VP of store planning, design and visual merchandising.

Prior to that, he held various visual merchandising roles of increasing responsibility with Liz Claiborne, Saks Department Store Group and Dillard's.

Chicago – Claire’s Stores Inc. had a disappointing third quarter, slightly increasing its net loss to $26.82 million from $25.47 million. A variety of expenses continued to outweigh Claire’s gross profit.

Vera Bradley has announced a new head of store development as it looks to reimagine Vera Bradley into a premium global lifestyle brand.

Harry Cunningham, who has nearly 25 years of experience in store design and visual merchandising, has been with Saks Fifth Avenue since 2006 and most recently held the post of SVP of Store Planning, Design and Visual Merchandising. Prior to that, Cunningham held various visual merchandising roles at Liz Claiborne, Saks Department Store Group and Dillard's.

London - Hunter, the British footwear and outdoor brand, opened its first global flagship, on London’s high-profile Regent Street. The 5,300-sq.-ft. store presents the retailer’s full collection, from its signature Wellington boots to outwear and accessories.   

Improved e-commerce and marketing strategies are among the reasons Shoe Carnival President and CEO Cliff Sifford cited for the company’s increase in same store sales.