Apparel

Paris -- LVMH announced the appointment of Caroline Brown as CEO of Donna Karan International, effective Jan. 15. She currently serves as president of Carolina Herrera.

Brown will replace Mark Weber, the incumbent CEO of Donna Karan International, who is becoming a consultant for LVMH.

The world’s retail capital is turning it up yet another degree, as a hot landmark project geared toward commuters launches development.

Turnstyle is the reinvention of a span of underground corridor that runs from West 57th St. to the Columbus Circle/59th St. subway. The new iteration, slated for a fall 2015 opening, will feature 26,000 sq. ft. of space divided among more than 30 retail shops and restaurants, ranging from trendy kiosks to 1,000-sq.-ft. storefronts and offering everything from jewelry and cosmetics to grab-and-go food and smart gathering places.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Trademark Property Co., the Fort Worth-based retail and mixed-use development, investment, and third-party services firm, announced that Kara Rafferty has joined the firm as director of leasing. An 18-year industry veteran, Rafferty will focus on Trademark’s leasing efforts throughout Texas.

Maplewood, Minn. -- Mid-America Real Estate Corporation’s investment sales team recently brokered the sale of Birch Run Station in Maplewood, Minnesota. The 278,347-sq.-ft. center was purchased by Greenwood Village, Colorado-based GDA Real Estate for $27.35 million.

Birch Run Station is located at the northwest quadrant of Beam Avenue and Southlawn Drive adjacent to the Maplewood Mall. The center is anchored by Marshalls, Jo-Ann Stores, Burlington Coat Factory, Herberger’s, and Dollar Tree.

San Francisco - The RealReal, a provider of authenticated luxury consignment, has appointed Michael Groffenberger as senior category director of fine jewelry and watches. Just prior to joining The RealReal, Groffenberger was executive VP of Shreve, Crump & Low in Boston, prior to that he was a senior sales professional at Tourneau.

Groffenberger is filling a new position created by The RealReal, Groffenberger will run the department, overseeing the full-time staff of fine jewelry & watch expert authenticators.

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Dress for Less will open two new stores in Hawaii on Oct. 10. The stores are located in Kukui Grove Center in Lihue, on the island of Kauai, and the Kahala Mall in Honolulu, on the island of Oahu.  

These new openings are part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Sears Holdings Corp. is selling most of its 51% stake in its Sears Canada division to shareholders as its looks to boost its liquidity before the crucial holiday selling season. Sears, which previously said it was exploring options for the struggling Sears Canada unit and retained Bank of America Merrill Lynch in May 2014, expects to raise as much as $380 million by November 2014. 

The Bon-Ton board of directors has added Beth Grumbacher, daughter of board chairman and strategic initiatives officer Tim Grumbacher, to its ranks, expanding the number of members to 10.

As part of its agenda to boost liquidity ahead of the highly contested holiday shopping season, Sears Holdings plans to sell most of its 51% stake in its struggling Sears Canada division to shareholders — a move that stands to raise as much as $380 million by November.

Christopher & Banks is preparing to roll out its new missy-petite-women (MPW) store concept at 37 stores, after successfully testing the retail strategy at 20 locations across the US last year. The retailer plans to convert a total of 190 stores by the end of this year.