Footwear

Walmart continues its online buying spree, but this time the target is a Web domain.   ShoeBuy.com, which Walmart acquired in January, has acquired the shoes.com domain name and related intellectual property for $9 million, according to documents filed with the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Bankruptcy and Insolvency. In an unexpected move, the Canada-based Shoes.com shut down its online sites and brick-and-mortar operations in January.   

The Harris Poll has released its 29th annual study of America’s top brands, and Kohl’s is one of the retail brands on top.   Kohl’s earned the top position in the department store category of the poll, in which more than 100,000 U.S. consumers assessed more than 4,000 brands across more than 450 categories.    Other retailers named as Brands of the Year included:     Luxury department store: Nordstrom  Off-price: TJ Maxx 

Orchestra is entering the United States, both online and off.    The 23-year-old French children’s and maternity fashion brand has launched its first English language website. The retailer will make its U.S. brick-and-mortar debut, opening newborn/children's clothing store at King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia, Pa.  

Tough times have caught up with Rue 21.   The struggling teen apparel chain plans to close nearly 400 stores nationwide, the Associated Press reported. The shutterings will leave the retailer with about 700 stores nationwide.   Rue 21 confirmed the news in a post on its Facebook page, calling it a “difficult but necessary” decision.   

Walmart reportedly is about to make its fourth e-commerce acquisition in seven months as the chain continues to beef up its online arsenal and fashion offerings against Amazon.       The chain is in advanced discussions to acquire Bonobos, an e-commerce-driven apparel company that designs and sells upscale men’s clothing, according to Recode. Founded in 2007, the brand is known for its hip, stylish threads and expert fit.    

Two menswear brands founded online are growing their brick-and-mortar operations.   Made-to-measure men’s clothing maker Indochino, which was founded in 2007, plans to open eight new locations in 2017. Three are slated to open in the brand’s home territory of Canada, and five in the U.S.    “This year, we’re almost doubling our showroom network as we focus on significantly expanding our experiential retail model,” stated Drew Green, CEO, Indochino.  

Uniqlo is set to open its third location in Canada.   The Japanese retail giant will open a two-level, 20,630-sq. ft. store at Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby, this fall. It will be Uniqlo’s first location in British Columbia, with the retailer’s other two Canadian stores in Toronto.   

Athletic brands rule when it comes to teen preferences for apparel and footwear.   That’s according to Piper Jaffrey’s 33rd semi-annual Taking Stock With Teens research survey which details teen spending trends and brand preferences. Nike ranked as the top brand with teens, with a 31% share, up from 21% last year. Another athletic brand, Adidas, however, is the fastest growing brand in the survey across footwear & apparel.  

Fashion retailer abof is breaking new ground by leveraging machine learning and natural language to better service its online shoppers.    Aditya Birla Online Fashion (abof) sells apparel, footwear and accessories for men and women, and has a strong millennial consumer base. Knowing this customer segment expects a highly convenient and distinctive customer service, abof needed a way to personalize its online experience.  

Omega Sports has a new owner.    The Greensboro, North Carolina-based sporting goods retailer has been acquired by Craig and Kristin Carlock. Effective immediately, Craig Carlock, former CEO of specialty grocer The Fresh Market, is Omega’s new CEO.