Apparel

Instagram has become a mainstream social media tool for retailers. However, while most retailers limit their Instagram usage to maintaining an official page or encouraging customers to post photos with Instagram hashtags as part of promotional campaigns, some retailers are more forward-thinking in their Instagram approach.

Here are three retailers showing real insight in how they are leveraging Instagram to its fullest potential:

New York - Tiffany & Co. has named Jill Beraud as an executive VP, effective Oct. 13. Beraud will have responsibility for global retail operations including all sales channels in every region, as well as oversight of strategic store development and real estate.

Beraud, 54, joins Tiffany from salon product manufacturer Living Proof where she has been CEO since 2011. Prior to that, her experience includes senior-level executive and marketing roles at PepsiCo Inc., L Brands, Inc. and The Procter & Gamble Co., among others.

Ankeny, Iowa – Dick’s Sporting Goods and Gordmans are reportedly the anchor stores for a proposed shopping center in Ankeny, Iowa. According to the Des Moines Register, St. Louis-based developer Staenberg Group seeks to begin construction on the project, known as Delaware Commons, in the fall.

Staenberg Group is seeking to obtain environmental permits relating to wetlands on the property. The center also has space for a third main anchor store, several junior anchors, and other small stores and restaurants.

Venice, Calif. – Vertical denim retailer Rialto Jean Project (RJP) opens a month-long pop-up shop on Sept. 5 in New York's South Street Seaport, in conjunction with the New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer presentations kicking off around Manhattan.

Brisbane, Calif. – Bebe Stores Inc. reported a preliminary net loss of $24.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2014, up from $20.8 million the second quarter of the prior fiscal year. The loss includes costs related to the discontinuation of Bebe’s 2b business, which was shut down July 5.

Net sales were $103.6 million, a decrease of 9% from $113.5 million. Same-store sales dropped 1.9%.

Jim Wiggett, CEO, remained optimistic in his comments about Bebe’s future:

Jacksonville, Fla. - Body Central Corp. is enacting a one-for-10 reverse stock split of its common stock. Each 10 shares of common stock will be converted into one share of common stock.

The number of outstanding common shares will be reduced from approximately 17.2 million to approximately 1.72 million. The number of authorized shares and the par value per share will remain unchanged.

J.C. Penney is launching a new online sports store that will be powered by Fanatics, an online retailer of officially licensed sports merchandise.

Fanatics operates an e-commerce platform for hundreds of collegiate and professional sports teams, leagues and media sites. Now, it will provide sports fans with a selection of team apparel and merchandise at JCPenney.com, offering more than 300,000 licensed products spanning all the major sports leagues.

Bebe has taken significant steps to refocus on the Bebe brand, to preserve cash and to gain operating efficiencies across the organization. The retailer put these measures into effect by making changes in leadership, closing its 2b division and restructuring its corporate office, including retail management.

But the discontinuation of its 2b business, which was shut down July 5, took a bite out of the company’s second quarter, prompting the retailer to issue preliminary results.

This week, a three-year-old Great Dane from Portland made headlines for consuming 43.5 socks. Hanes is capitalizing on the trending story by offering the mischievous pooch free dog treats for the rest of his life. 

“While Hanes believes its socks are tasty footwear,” the company said in a statement, “it hopes this offer will get the Great Dane snacking on something that's much more pleasant for his tummy.”