Footwear

Slidell, La. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties and Covington, La.-based Stirling Properties announced Wednesday the formation of a 65/35 joint venture to develop Fremaux Town Center in Slidell, La.  

Sidney, Neb. -- Cabela’s Inc. on Tuesday announced plans for two new stores, one in Greenville, S.C., and the other in Woodbury, Minn.

Cabela’s expects to open the Greenville store – its first South Carolina location – in spring 2014. The 100,000-sq.-ft. store will be located in Magnolia Park, a newly redeveloped shopping center.

Paris -- French luxury group PPR’s Tuesday announcement that it has acquired 51% of British fashion brand Christopher Kane means that the luxury designer will soon have branded boutiques. The first is slated to open in London as early as 2014.

According to a report by Reuters, the deal is part of PPR's strategy to add to its luxury portfolio with small brands that have growth potential.

"We think it can become a sizeable business," Alexis Babeau, managing director of PPR's luxury division, told Reuters on Tuesday.

Duluth, Ga. -- NCR Corp. announced that DSW Inc. will expand its use of NCR Advanced Store point-of-sale software to offer DSW shoppers mobile  POS functionality and returns throughout the chain.  
    

SUFFERN, N.Y. — Ascena Retail Group reported a lower than expected 2% decline in same store sales at physical stores for the November and December holiday period, but managed a 30% increase in online sales.

Combined comparable store and e-commerce sales for the holiday period ended December 29, 2012 increased 1%, prompting Ascena to lower earnings per share guidance for its current fiscal year ending July 27.

San Francisco -- Gymboree Corp. has hired a second senior-level Gap Inc. executive, naming Gap North America finance VP Evan Price as its new CFO.

Price, who also served as VP of Old Navy, will take over Gymboree’s top finance slot on Jan. 21, joining new CEO Mark Breitbard, former Gap North American division president.

New York -- Modell’s Sporting Goods said Wednesday it has named Charles Castaneda chief merchandising officer for the chain, a promotion from his current position of EVP planning and allocations.

The company has also moved Jay O’Brien from general merchandising manager of footwear to general merchandising manager of sporting goods, to succeed the recently departed Bill Hackett.  

Jeff Schaffer has been promoted to general merchandising manager of footwear.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — Designer Shoe Warehouse will use VendorNet’s StoreNet Live tool to strengthen its e-commerce position by improving fulfillment for online sales.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced plans to open two new Nordstrom Rack stores, with one in Atlanta, at the Perimeter Expo shopping center, which is owned by Kimco Realty Corp., and the other in Naples, Fla., at The Mercato.

The 36,000-sq,-ft. Atlanta store is scheduled to open in fall 2013. The 30,000-sq.-ft. Naples store is scheduled to open in fall 2013.

Boynton Beach, Fla. -- Designer Shoe Warehouse Inc., has selected VendorNet to provide ship-from-store and dropship management solutions.

VendorNet, a wholly owned subsidiary of GSI Commerce, an eBay Inc. company, is a provider of cross-channel fulfillment and supply chain technology. DSW will use VendorNet’s StoreNet Live to implement omnichannel retail capabilities, including brick-and-mortar store fulfillment for online sales.