Apparel

West Marine's renewed focus on omnichannel growth seems to be paying off as the specialty retailer reported a big spike in same store sales in the second quarter.

Las Vegas - American consumers are increasingly comfortable with shopping through their smartphones, and many are using digital channels like social media and email marketing to engage with apparel brands.

According to a survey by advertising/marketing technology provider Fluent Inc., roughly 30% of respondents said that they have bought clothing using their smartphones.

London -- Fast-fashion giant H&M doesn’t let any grass grow under its feet.

H&M is expanding its higher-end, minimalist-styled brand, COS (short for Collection of Style). The retailer plans to open four stores in the United States in 2015, starting this fall, with two new markets on tap. COS is also expanding into Canada, with stores set to open in both Montreal and Toronto later this year.

Skechers USA Inc., which recently passed Adidas to become the number two athletic footwear brand in the United States, is on the fast track.

The company, whose second quarter sales beat estimates, has carved out a lucrative niche in casual athletic footwear and in kids’ athletic footwear. It is in expansion mode, with plans to open 125 to 135 company-owned and third-party-owned stores later this year.

As shoppers get ready to slip back into their jeans for the upcoming fall and back-to-school seasons, it makes sense that Target has given its denim assortment a big refresh.

Target’s team of designers went to work to completely overhaul the retailer's denim assortment. The result? New styles and revamped fits, fabrics and finishes — comparable to what you’d find at a high-end department store — all for $30 or less. 

A veteran retailer with experience in running big national chains has joined City Sports as its new chief executive.

New York -- Activism, yoga classes and free repairs are all on the menu at Patagonia’s new store in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood.

The global outdoor lifestyle retailer, one of the industry’s most dedicated environmentalists, is marking 20 years of doing business in the Big Apple.

Framingham, Mass. – The TJX Cos. Inc. apparently has a taste for vegemite.

TJX is purchasing Trade Secret, an off-price retailer that operates 35 stores in Australia, from Gazal Corp. Ltd. for $58.45 million. The acquisition of Trade Secret provides TJX an opportunistic entry into Australia, where it currently operates one of its 13 buying offices.