Footwear

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. announced Wednesday that customers in Japan can now shop Gap and Banana Republic products online through its new Japanese e-commerce sites (gap.co.jp and bananarepublic.co.jp). The sites offer Gap, GapKids, babyGap and Banana Republic products.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Payless Holdings has named Paul Jones as CEO. Jones was most recently chairman, president and CEO of Shopko Stores, a $2.7 billion mass merchandiser providing quality products and health services at great values in small to mid-sized markets. Jones will be based in Topeka and will join the company in an official capacity on Oct. 22.
 

Burlington, Mass. -- KeyPoint Partners said Tuesday it has negotiated a lease with Sun & Ski Sports to occupy a 14,393-sq.-ft. space at 406 Washington Street in Woburn, Mass.

The store will be situated on the upper level of the building which houses Hogan Tire & Auto Service Center.

According to Sun & Ski parent Retail Concepts, a November 2012 opening is planned for this newest store, which is the chain’s thirtieth.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. is expanding its e-commerce service to Japan. Japaese customers can now shop Gap and Banana Republic products online through its new Japanese e-commerce sites (gap.co.jp and bananarepublic.co.jp).  The sites offer Gap, GapKids, babyGap and Banana Republic products.

Rockford, Mich. -- Wolverine Worldwide said Tuesday it will complete its previously announced acquisition of Collective Brands' Performance + Lifestyle Group, which consists of the Sperry Top-Sider, Saucony, Stride Rite and Keds brands, for $1.24 billion.

The banners will become Wolverine’s largest operating group, adding more than $1 billion in revenue to Wolverine’s existing stable of brands such as Merrell and Hush Puppies.

Li Ning, one of China’s largest marketers of sports apparel, footwear and equipment, has opened a flagship in Beijing with a bold design that  uses the theme of motion to attract and engage shoppers. A strong angular grid pattern is present throughout the store—in the ceilings, lighting and floor pattern — that creates an impression of non-stop movement. The theme is most visible on the sweeping lines of the four-story façade, which features a massive banner with changeable imagery.

Brisbane, Calif. -- Fashion retailer Bebe reported Wednesday that total sales for the first quarter fell 9.4% to $105.1 million. Same-store sales dropped 8.7%, missing expectations of a more moderate 6.8% decline.

The 250-store chain has officially launched a search for a new CEO, announcing on Wednesday it has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to lead the effort. Former CEO Gregory Scott resigned the post in January 2009, and founder Manny Mashouf has been serving in an interim capacity since that time.

Denver -- Regional chain The Running Specialty Group announced Wednesday it has acquired five Dallas-based Run On! stores, bring the total number of stores to 24.

RSG is a joint venture between The Finish Line and private-equity firm Gart Capital Partners.

Plans call for RSG to begin expanding in Texas and surrounding areas over the next five years.