Footwear

Seattle – Nordstrom has entered into an agreement to acquire Trunk Club, a personalized clothing service for men. Trunk Club's 250 personal stylists build one-to-one relationships with their members to understand their lifestyles and styling preferences before hand-selecting merchandise that is then shipped to the customer.

Customers keep what they like and return the rest for free. There is no membership fee, no obligations and no commitments.

Rosemont, Ill. - Horizon Group Properties Inc. and CBL & Associates Properties Inc. have opened The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass, which opened fully leased with 90 stores and eateries. The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass is the only outlet center in the state and is located between Louisville and Lexington on Interstate 64.

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

Pacific Sunwear’s SVP of women’s merchandising and design Christine Lee has resigned. Filling the role on an interim basis will be Brieane Breuer, who joined PacSun in 2007 and is the company's current VP of women's design.

Breuer received her master's degree in fashion design and styling from Istituto Marangoni and during the past 13 years has held various merchandising and design roles at high-end fashion brands such as Valentino, as well as at Abercrombie & Fitch.

Chicago — Regency Centers announced the groundbreaking of a new 40,000-sq.-ft. Whole Foods Market, located 25 miles from downtown Chicago in Schererville, Indiana.

The new store, situated in The Shops on Main shopping center, is projected to open in fall 2015. Current tenants include Homegoods, Gordmans, Ross Dress for Less, and DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse.

Crocs has appointed Claire Fahie-Conley, former VP of U.S. retail for Reebok, as its VP of retail for North America. Fahie-Conley will report directly to Greg Sullivan, GM for the Americas.

Fahie-Conley will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the retail footprint in North America, including the entire fleet of full-price and outlet stores. She will be based out of the new Global Commercial Center in Boston, scheduled to open in late 2014.

Global fitness brand Reebok is expanding its retail footprint in New York with a new 3,070-sq.-ft. FitHub in Union Square.

Reebok first unveiled the new retail store concept at a pilot location in New York’s 5th Ave., in 2012, and has since expanded throughout the city with locations in the Upper East Side; Paramus, N.J.; and White Plains, N.Y.

Niwot, Colo. -- Claire Fahie-Conley, VP of U.S. retail for Reebok, has been appointed Crocs' VP of retail for North America. In this role, Fahie-Conley will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the retail footprint in North America, including the entire fleet of full-price and outlet stores.

New York - Households with school-aged children (pre-school through 12th grade) plan to spend more this year on back-to-school necessities with a predicted increase of 9 % for an average spend of $655, according to the 15th annual survey conducted by Brand Keys.

Average anticipated spending in all major back-to-school categories reflect higher levels from 2013:

Clothing: $348 (+16%)
Shoes (athletic & dress) $127 (+15%)
Supplies $ 89 (+13%)
Computers/Electronics/
Tablets/Smartphones: $213 (+12%)

Chicago - Regency Centers Corporation is starting construction on a new 40,000-sq.-ft.Whole Foods Market. The new store, located 25 miles from downtown Chicago in Schererville, Ind., is projected to open in the fall of 2015, joining existing tenants Homegoods, Gordmans, Ross Dress for Less, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and many others.