Footwear

In conjunction with its new premium tween brand for girls called I Heart UGG, UGG Australia is planning to launch on July 14 a dedicated e-commerce site that will offer the entire product line called iheartugg.com. 

The line includes footwear, loungewear, accessories and handbags and will be available in the United States, Japan and China. The new brand, the company said, has been designed to not only tap into the tween market but also to foster enduring brand loyalty among customers. 

Seattle -- REI will set up shop in two new locations next spring. The national outdoor retailer will open in Princeton, New Jersey. REI is also extending its presence in the Atlanta area, with a 24,000-sq.-ft. store in Alpharetta, Georgia.

REI’s 23,000-sq.-ft. store in Princeton will be located at Mercer Mall.

Meriden, Conn. -- Vestis Retail Group, made up of the East Coast-based Bob's Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports, has signed an agreement to acquire Los Angeles-based Sport Chalet.

Vestis Retail Group, the parent company of Bob's Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports, has set the wheels in motion to acquire Sport Chalet.

The acquisition will create one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the United States, with more than 150 stores and coverage on the East and West coasts. Sport Chalet will continue to operate stores under its existing brand name, and according to Vestis Retail Group, no store closures are planned.

Nine West has integrated LivePerson’s LiveEngage digital engagement solution into the Demandware Commerce platform for its website.

According to LivePerson, the LiveEngage platform helps Nine West meet evolving consumer demands for a more seamless digital shopping journey, and has simultaneously improved the brand's customer reported satisfaction, increased incremental revenue and reduced support costs.

Nine West reported the following results four months after implementing LiveEngage:

Indianapolis -- The Finish Line’s first-quarter profit more than doubled as the retailer expanded its presence online and in Macy's stores nationwide. Its results topped Wall Street estimates.
 
The retailer reported a profit of $12.4 million, compared to $5.1 million in the year-ago period. Revenue was up 16% to $406.5 million. Same-store sales increased 5%.
 

The Finish Line is off to a strong start in fiscal 2015, according to chairman and CEO Glenn Lyon, who credited the company’s omnichannel efforts for its first-quarter success.

The company reported consolidated net sales of $406.5 million, an increase of 15.8% over the prior year period. Comparable store sales increased 5%.

King of Prussia, Pa. -- eBay Enterprise, an eBay Inc. company, announced that Designer Shoe Warehouse will expand its omnichannel fulfillment capabilities with eBay Enterprise In-Store Pickup. The company is also poised to launch ship-to-store as part of its progressive omnichannel strategy.
  

New York — Handcrafted eyewear retailer, Dita, has leased a 1,300-sq.-ft. store at 273 Lafayette Street in SoHo. It will be Dita’s first Manhattan locations and its New York flagship. RKF represented Dita in the transaction, while The Lansco Corp. acted on behalf of the landlord, 157 Prince Street Associates.

DSW is expanding its omnichannel fulfillment capabilities with eBay Enterprise In-Store Pickup. The company is also poised to launch Ship-to Store as part of its omnichannel strategy.

DSW selected eBay Enterprise as its omnichannel fulfillment partner more than a year ago, and has reportedly seen success with its Ship-from Store and Dropship capabilities.