Footwear

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group announced that its Town Center at Boca Raton shopping mall is celebrating the grand opening of two national retail debuts, a Florida first in dining and several other upscale additions.

Recently, Swiss watch manufacturer Ulysse Nardin opened its first freestanding U.S. boutique at Town Center at Boca Raton. Prior to the holidays, gold vending machine, the GOLD to go ATM, opened.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -- Specialty apparel retailer Wet Seal announced that it has entered into an employment contract with Susan McGalla to serve as its new CEO through Aug. 8, 2014. McGalla will assume her position as CEO on Jan. 18. Ed Thomas will remain as interim CEO until Jan. 18, and thereafter will remain employed by the company until Feb. 8, to assist with transition.

Zappos.com took top honors in the sixth annual NRF Foundation/American Express Customers' Choice Survey, whose results were released at the National Retail Federation's Annual Convention and Expo in New York City. The survey, conducted by BIGresearch, is designed to gauge consumer attitudes toward retailers' customer service and provide a list of the retailer that offer the best customer service (as judged by consumers).

The Top 10 retailers in the ranking were:

New York City -- Red Wing Shoe Co. plans to open 125 stores in the next five years, according to the Star Tribune.

The stores, all independently owned, will open mostly in the Northeast, in cities such as Philadelphia, where the Minnesota retailer doesn't have a strong presence.

Red Wing has about 425 U.S. stores, and about 70% are independently owned and operated.

The push into new markets represents about a 20% jump in new store growth, the company said.

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Co. announced Monday it has promoted Diane Sullivan as president and CEO, effective May 26.

Sullivan ha been president and COO.

Current CEO Ron Fromm will remain chairman following a transition period ending in May.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Ebay has announced that it will engage fashion publishing innovator and style luminary Andrea Linett as creative director for Ebay fashion. Working with Ebay’s fashion business, marketing and communications units for North America, and the company’s technology team, Linett will drive the creative vision for the company’s multibillion-dollar fashion business and will be responsible for advancing the image, voice and editorial style for the marketplace’s clothing, shoes and accessories category, the company reported.

New York City -- Teen specialty retailer Anchor Blue has closed its headquarters and is in the process of winding down operations at its 120 stores, Women’s Wear Daily reported.

Based in Corona, Calif., Anchor Blue is owned by private equity firm Sun Capital partners.

Stratham, N.H. -- A Tuesday report by the Wall Street Journal said that outdoor gear retailer Timberland will expand its presence in mainland China from 110 stores currently to double that number.

According to the company’s president and CEO, Jeffrey Swartz, who was interviewed by WSJ, the retailer sees the potential to more than double its doors in the next three years.

Swartz said one way his company can connect with Chinese consumers is by highlighting its environmental credentials.

New York City -- The Finish Line said Tuesday that its fiscal third-quarter net income fell 37% as a one-time leg up from a tax windfall last year was not repeated.

Net income in the three months to Nov. 27 hit $4.1 million, from $6.6 million a year ago. Last year's tax benefit amounted to $6.4 million. Revenue rose 9% to $260.9 million, from $240.1 million. Same-store sales were up 4.5% from Nov. 28 through Dec. 19, compared with the same period a year ago.

The results were better than analysts’ estimates.