Formalwear

Fort Myers, Fla. -- White House|Black Market, a division of Chico's FAS announced that Liz Edmiston has been named senior VP, general merchandise manager for White House|Black Market, effective Feb. 28.

Edmiston joins White House|Black Market from Tory Burch, where she served as VP merchandising. She has also served as VP merchandising for Victoria's Secret.
 

New York City -- New York & Co. said Tuesday it has promoted current president Gregory Scott to the role of CEO, effective Feb. 12.

Richard P. Crystal, current chairman and CEO, had previously announced his impending retirement, effective Feb. 11.

Grace Nichols, who has served as a director since March 2008, will assume the role of non-executive chair of the board effective Feb. 12. Scott will remain a director on the company’s board.

Houston -- Men's Wearhouse said its president and COO, Douglas Ewert, will replace company founder George Zimmer as CEO in mid-2011.

Zimmer, 62, who founded Men's Wearhouse in 1973, will remain executive chairman of the board. The company said he would help Ewert with "strategic direction" for Men's Wearhouse and keep a hand in marketing decisions.

LOS ANGELES — IBISWorld predicted Valentine's Day will boost retail sales in a new report.

The independent market and research firm said that consumers are expected to spend 5.8% more on Valentine’s Day purchases this year than last year, totaling $18.6 billion, or about $125 per person.

Big gains will be seen across all categories. Jewelry is expected to see an 11.3% boost, greeting cards and candy are projected to grow 4.9% and 5.1%, respectively, and clothing and lingerie should see a 3.4% rise.

HOUSTON  -- The Men's Wearhouse announced that Grace Nichols has been elected to the company's board of directors, effective January 30, increasing the number of directors to nine.

Houston -- The Men's Wearhouse said Friday it has elected former Victoria's Secret Stores CEO Grace Nichols to its board of directors.

The appointment is effective Jan. 30.

Nichols will be the ninth member of the company's board. She worked at Limited Brands for 20 years and was CEO of Victoria's Secret Stores from 1992 to 2007. Nichols is also on the boards of Pacific Sunwear of California and of New York & Co.

New York City -- Robert K. Futterman & Associates said it has arranged a long-term, 10,700-sq.-ft. lease with Mulberry at 134 Spring St., between Greene and Wooster Streets in SoHo.

The store will serve as the British lifestyle brand’s flagship location in New York City and will be its third store in Manhattan. Scheduled to open in the summer, Mulberry will occupy 5,700 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail and 5,000 on the lower level and will sell ready-to-wear in addition to accessories.

Vernon Hills, Ill. -- Beachwood, Ohio-based Chase Properties announced that Hawthorn Hills Square in Vernon Hills, Ill., is being redeveloped to coincide with the opening of Dick's Sporting Goods (December 2010) and PetSmart and Five Below that are expected to open in the spring. Additionally, Noodles will be opening a new freestanding restaurant at the center in the fall.

Houston -- Men's Wearhouse said Tuesday that higher sales lifted its third-quarter profit by 31%, but its forecast for the fourth quarter missed Wall Street's expectations.

Net income rose to $25.3 million in the three months ended Oct. 30, from $19.3 million a year earlier. Revenue increased 19% to $550.1 million, from $462 million in the previous year. Tuxedo rental revenue rose 13% and accounted for more than 20% of the company's quarterly total. Other clothing sales climbed 22% in the quarter.

Hampstead, Md. -- Jos. A. Banks posted a profit of $12.6 million during the fiscal 2010 third quarter ended Oct. 30, compared with a profit of $11.7 million in the year age period. It was the 36th quarter out of the past 37 with earnings growth compared with prior year periods.

Revenue increased 7.4% to $173.3 million from $161.3 million a year ago. Same-store sales increased 3% in the quarter.

Both earnings and sales trailed analysts’ estimates.