Accessories

Christopher & Banks has appointed former National Stores executive Lynn C. Derry as SVP and general merchandise manager.

Fremont, Calif. – The Men’s Wearhouse reported same-store sales growth of 3.6% for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as of July 19. The retailer’s second quarter ends Aug. 2.

In addition, as of July 19 same-stores sales in Men’s Wearhouse’s Jos. A. Bank division, which was purchased in June 2014, were up 2.4%. Same-store sales at the Moore’s division were up 8.3%.

Grand Rapids. Mich. – Meijer is reportedly focusing on making its apparel, footwear and accessories assortment more appealing to fashion-conscious customers. According to the Detroit News, Meijer is taking steps including redesigning its stores, hiring outside consultants and launching a multimedia marketing campaign to improve the appeal of apparel and related categories.

Urban Outfitters has gone big — really big — in New York City, opening a 57,000-sq.-ft. “lifestyle center” store in Manhattan’s Herald Square area. The space, the brand’s largest location to date, is big on in-store shops and includes such extras as a hair salon, bookshop, coffee bar and photography shop (with a booth for printing Instagram snapshots). All this is featured along with Urban’s menswear, womenswear and home collections.

San Francisco -- Continuing its global growth, Gap Inc. on Monday announced that it will introduce the Gap brand to Slovenia and Austria through agreements with new and existing franchise partners. Magistrat International, a new partner, has been selected for the launch of Slovenia. Gottex, which currently manages the Gap franchise business in Israel and Hungary, will launch Austria.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Trademark Property Co. announced it has been engaged to manage and lease Uptown Village at Cedar Hill, a 610,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use open-air center in Cedar Hill, Texas.

Strategically located in the midst of a dynamic retail hub less than 20 minutes south of downtown Dallas, Uptown Village includes 350,000 sq. ft. of specialty stores and restaurants and 35,000 sq. ft. of office space.

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Stores opened 23 Ross Dress for Less stores and seven DD’s Discounts locations across 17 states in June and July. These new locations are part of the retailer's plans to add a total of approximately 75 Ross and 20 DD’s Discounts stores during 2014.

Ross believes that future growth opportunities include almost doubling its store count from its current 1,194 stores to 2,000 stores, and also growing DD’s Discounts from 144 stores to 500 stores.

Ross Stores is in the process of opening 23 Ross Dress for Less and seven dd's Discounts stores across 17 different states. The new locations are part of the off-price retailer's plans to add a total of 75 Ross and 20 dd's Discounts stores during 2014.

"These latest openings reflect our ongoing expansion strategy to fill in our presence in existing markets while also increasing penetration in our newer Midwest region where we added another eight Ross locations in July,” said Jim Fassio, president and chief development officer.

New York – Uniqlo will open a store at Great Mall in Milpitas, California, on Sept. 12. The store will be the first Uniqlo location to feature a 100% eco-friendly design, with LED lighting, greener materials and high-efficiency elements throughout.

The new Uniqlo also include specialty shopping vignettes that will create a store-within-a-store feel in the women and children’s departments. In-store display materials will also include updated digital screens.

Uniqlo plans to open a store at Great Mall in Milpitas, California, on Sept. 12 — the first location to feature a 100% eco-friendly design, with LED lighting, greener materials and high-efficiency elements throughout.

The new store will also include specialty shopping vignettes that create a store-within-a-store feel in the women and children’s departments. In-store display materials will also include updated digital screens.