Casual

PARIS — Gap Inc. announced the opening of its first Banana Republic store on Avenue des Champs Élysées in Pais, France. According to the company, the 15,952-sq.-ft. space will house the brand’s women’s and men’s collections and represents the most contemporary expression of the brand globally.

Buffalo, N.Y. -- Lifestyle brand New Era said it has opened its eleventh global flagship store, located in the West Hollywood shopping district of Los Angeles.

The brand’s first West Coast retail space joins current U.S. locations in New York, Chicago and Atlanta. The 3,300-sq.-ft. store will house licensed and New Era branded headwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and kids.

Paris -- Gap Inc. announced Thursday the opening of its first Banana Republic store in France, located in Paris on Avenue des Champs Élysées.

The 15,952-sq.-ft. space will house the brand’s women’s and men’s collections. “We are thrilled to open our first Banana Republic store in France -- a brand-building flagship in Paris -- and reach yet another important milestone for our international growth strategy,” said Stephen Sunnucks, president, International, Gap Inc.

Warrendale, Pa. -- Rue21 has begun to implement assortment planning software from Maple Lake Ltd. The technology has the potential to reduce markdowns and increase profitability by allowing the company to constantly monitor and assort the newest trends for girls and guys between its store locations, Maple Lake said.

Warrendale, Pa. -- Rue21 Inc. reported Wednesday that its third-quarter profit surged 22% to $8.7 million, from $7.1 million a year earlier, as the apparel retailer opened dozens of new stores during the period.

Revenue climbed 19% to $194.8 million, but missed Wall Street’s expected $197.3 million in revenue. The company opened 30 stores during the quarter and expanded eight into its "Rue21 etc!" format.
 

Everett, Wash. -- Zumiez Inc. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Oct. 29 rose 14.8% to $14.1 million, from $12.3 million in the prior fiscal year.

Revenue climbed 13.3% to $154 million from $135.9 million, and same-store sales grew 6%.

“We are pleased with the current pace of growth for our business and believe our product assortment has us well positioned for the remainder of the holiday selling period," said Rick Brooks, CEO.

Bensalem, Pa. -- Charming Shoppes reported Thursday that its loss in the 3Q narrowed to $13 million from a loss of $18.8 million a year earlier. Revenue in the quarter dropped to $429.7 million, from $463.6 million last year, and same-store sales decreased 4%.

The retailer said it is conducting a strategic review of its operations, which includes the divestiture of its Fashion Bug business and the expansion of its Lane Bryant brand.

Boston -- City Sports announced the appointment of Debi Binder to VP marketing and Dana Klein to director of e-commerce.

Binder most recently served as a senior VP for CCA Global Partners. Prior to City Sports, Klein managed operations and merchandising at Puma North America for the brand's shop.puma.com site.

New York City -- Aeropostale announced that Arthur Rubinfeld, president - global development for Starbucks Coffee Co., has been appointed to the Aeropostale board of directors.

Rubinfeld helped build the foundation of Starbucks as senior VP real estate from 1992 to 2002, and returned to the company in his current position in 2008.
 

Philadelphia -- Metro Commercial Real Estate said that Athleta has opened its first store in the Philadelphia area at 1722 Walnut Street in the heart of Center City. 

The 4,000-sq.-ft. store, which is a division of Gap Inc., opened on Nov. 9. Kaiserman Cos. is the landlord of 1722 Walnut Street, a strip of high-end retail along Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Row.