Apparel

New York - While the majority of consumers prefer to both shop and spend their money in brick-and-mortar retail stores, more than 60% are increasing their online shopping activities, according to a survey of 1,515 consumers by digital marketing firm SmartFocus. This trend is most prevalent among women (71%) and Millennials.

New York – Ann Inc. is publicly responding to an open letter sent by activist investors Engine Capital and Red Alder on Aug. 25, which urged the company to sell at a substantial premium above current stock price. In a press release, Ann Inc. said its board is “very active and consistently has been, and remains, focused on enhancing shareholder value.”

Ann Inc. also said its board regularly reviews all options and uses a financial advisor to help evaluate them.

Columbus, Ohio – DSW Inc. plans to open four new stores on Sept. 18. The new stores will be located at the Pinnacle Promenade in Rogers, Arkansas, Ingram Festival in Ingram, Texas, Waugh Chapel Town Center in Crofton, Maryland, and Evansville Pavilion in Evansville, Indiana.

Stores offer the DSW Rewards loyalty program, and customers can also participate in the Shoe Lovers program on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This fall, T.J.Maxx is partnering with Erika Christensen and designer Jenn Rogien, who has made headlines for her wardrobe curations for hit TV series such as “Girls” and “Orange Is the New Black,” for a new ad campaign revolving around a woman’s style.

Copper Fit on Monday announced that retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre will serve as the company's brand ambassador. Favre made his debut as a Copper Fit brand ambassador in the commercial, “Life After Football” that began airing nationwide in September, the company stated.
 
“I live with muscle and joint soreness every day,” Favre said, reflecting on his life in the NFL while working on his farm in Mississippi. “But life after football can be just as tough. For knee and elbow support, I choose Copper Fit.”
 

Wolverine Worldwide is looking to bolster its brand leadership and management team. To that end, the company has promoted Rick Blackshaw to president, Sperry Top-Sider, and Chris Lindner to president, Keds.

Blackshaw served most recently as president of Keds, where he is credited with leading the brand to a global resurgence with a focused consumer-centric business strategy, outstanding product and compelling marketing. Blackshaw came to Keds from Converse, where he was the VP and GM of the Chuck Taylor footwear business.    

Late last month, Ann Inc. received an open letter from activist investors Engine Capital and Red Adler urging the company to sell at a substantial premium above current stock price. The company has today publicly responded to the letter, stressing its board is “very active and consistently has been, and remains, focused on enhancing shareholder value.”

Ann Inc. also said its board regularly reviews all options and uses a financial adviser to help evaluate them.

Atlanta - Overall retail spending growth in August 2014 was the strongest in more than a year. According to the First Data SpendTrend report, retail dollar volume growth reached 2.8% in August (compared to 2.6% in July), as back-to-school shopping propelled spending growth in several retail categories. (SpendTrend tracks same-store point-of-sale data by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks from nearly 4 million merchants locations serviced by First Data in the United States.)

New York – Foot Locker Inc. is partnering with crowdsourced delivery service Deliv to offer shoppers on its Footlocker.com website the option to have their purchases delivered same-day. Leveraging Deliv's Application Programming Interface (API), which connects directly into the Footlocker.com website, shoppers can now select same-day or next day delivery for $5.

Houston – The Mansour Group has arranged the sale of the 99% leased, 223,223-sq.-ft. Almeda Crossing Power Center located in Houston, for more than $30 million. The seller was a Texas-based developer and The Mansour Group was able to deliver the property to a national REIT.

The center is leased to an array of national tenants including Ross, Marshall’s, Staples, PetSmart, Conn’s, Party City, Show Carnival, Dollar Tree, Anna’s Linens, Aaron’s and many others and is shadow anchored by a Walmart supercenter.