Footwear

Columbus, Ohio - The Affiliated Business Group (ABG), a division of DSW Inc., will exclusively supply the footwear departments of all U.S. Loehmann’s stores and the loehmanns.com e-commerce site. The initial rollout of the news arrangement is expected to commence in a few stores starting December, 013 with the balance of the chain and e-commerce launching in the first quarter of 2014. ABG will plan, procure, and deliver the entire women's and men's footwear inventory, while Loehmann’s will provide staffing for the shoe departments.

Englewood, Colo. – Michael Foss has been named CEO of The Sports Authority Inc. He replaced outgoing CEO Darrell Webb, who is retiring both as the company’s chief executive and chairman of the board.

Foss, a member of the board of directors of The Sports Authority since 2009, most recently served as executive VP and CFO at Petco Animal Supplies and as CFO of Circuit City Stores before that. He has 30 years of executive experience across a variety of verticals including retail.

Philadelphia -- Madewell, a J. Crew concept, has signed its first lease in Center City Philadelphia, according to broker Fameco Real Estate. The 4,000 sq.-ft. store will be located near Rittenhouse Square. Neighboring retailers include Intermixx, Burberry, Athleta and Blue Mercury. Fameco and Open Realty Advisors both represented Madewell in the transaction.

Both brokers are also representing searching for a 2,500-sq.-ft. location for J. Crew Men on Walnut Street in Philadelphia.

Lexington, Mass. - Stride Rite Children's Group has opened its latest “Milestone” concept store at Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio. The Milestone concept includes features such as shelves at varying heights so children can easily see all of the styles available, a dedicated “Fit Station” where children can get their feet measured and find out how tall they are by standing against the Fit Totem Pole, rainbow carpeting and a more open floor plan.

DSW’s division the Affiliated Business Group has entered into a joint agreement with Loehmann’s which renders ABG the sole supplier for Loehmann’s footwear departments in the company’s U.S. locations and e-commerce site.

The initial roll out is expected to begin at a few stores starting December, with the balance of the chain and e-commerce launching in the first quarter 2014. ABG will plan, procure and deliver the entire women's and men's footwear inventory, while Loehmann’s will provide staffing for the shoe departments.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Sports Authority has appointed Michael Foss as the company’s new CEO, following Darrell Webb’s announcement that he is retiring as CEO and chairman of the board. 

Los Altos, Calif. – Catalog Spree, which promotes itself as a “digital mall” providing online access to retail catalogs, has added several brands to its mobile shopping app. Retailers — including Forever 21, JC Penney, Kohl's, Target, Toms Shoes, Torrid and Urban Outfitters — now have Catalog Spree “lookbooks” that provide online browsing of catalog-style product selections. Catalog Spree also has added a price watch feature that sends users automatic notifications when prices on desired goods drop to a certain point.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Stein Mart’s interim CEO Jay Stein has been named CEO. 

"It has been my pleasure to return and lead Stein Mart after nearly two years as interim CEO. Working side-by-side with our wonderful leadership team, we are now enjoying these great results," said Stein. "This is an important time in our company's history and I am very happy to be part of this great organization."

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Southern department store Belk has selected 13 winners from nearly 300 entrants in the retailer's Southern Designer Showcase competition. Belk announced the winners at an event at its corporate headquarters.

"We are so excited to add these impressive designers to our Belk family," said president and CMO Kathryn Bufano. "This year's winners truly represent the Modern. Southern. Style. that we deliver to our customers every day."

San Francisco -- The Gymboree Corporation has appointed former Levi Strauss & Co. executive Joelle Maher as the company's new COO.  

At Levi Strauss & Co., Maher was most recently executive VP, president global retail, and prior to that senior VP of Americas multichannel retail, and VP, planning, allocation, stores, store operations and outlet.

She also held executive leadership positions at Lucky Brand Jeans, Old Navy and Macy's East.