Footwear

Pittsburgh – American Eagle Outfitters is lowering its earnings outlook for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 due to what the retailer characterizes as weak sales and margins. The company now forecasts earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter of about $0.10, down significantly from $0.21 in the second quarter of last year.

Buoyed by strong sales and growing profitability, leading footwear retailer DSW Inc., preannounced second quarter sales and plans for a 2-for-1 stock split in advance of the release of second quarter results on August 27.

DSW’s sales for the second quarter ended August 3, increased 9% to $558 million from $512 million and same store sales increased 4.3% on top of a prior year gain of 4.2%. Those results prompted the operator of 377 stores to increase its full year profit forecast to a range of $3.60 to $3.80 per share from the previous range of $3.40 to $3.60 per share.

Halton Hills, Ontario — Simon Property Group has announced the opening of Toronto Premium Outlets™, the first Premium Outlet Centre in Canada. The development is a 50/50 joint venture with Calloway Real Estate Investment Trust.

The Converse flagship in San Francisco is not only the sneaker brand’s first Northern California location; it’s also its largest and most innovative location to date. The 8,200-sq.-ft. store, which features Converse’s full line-up of footwear, apparel and accessories, is big on personalization, with an interactive system for designing one-of-a-kind Converse sneakers and clothing.  

WARRENDALE, Pa. — Rue21, a leading specialty apparel retailer for young women and men, is trying out a new store format on for size, and about to give guys something to smile about in the process.

The retailer has opened its first RueGuy stores in Bay Shore, N.Y., Harlingen, Texas, and New Boston, Ohio. The approximately 6,000-sq.-ft. stores are the first of seven RueGuy stores slated to open across the U.S. during August. The company is on target to open approximately 20 RueGuy stores by the end of the year.

Warrendale, Pa. -- Teen apparel retailer rue21 has unveiled a new retail concept, rueGuy, with stores in Shore, N.Y., Harlingen, Texas, and New Boston, Ohio. The company plans to open an additional four locations by the end of August, and is on target to open approximately 20 rueGuy stores by yearend.

New York -- Households with school-age children (pre-kindergarten through 12th grade) plan a big cut-back in back-to-school spending. Results of the 2013 Brand Keys Back to School Report Card show that there will be a year-over-year decrease of 10% in back-to-school spending, or an average spend this year of just more than $600 per household.

However, not every retailer will experience a decline in back-to-school profits. This year, the eight retailers showing the greatest increase in consumer intent-to-shop were:

1. Amazon