Apparel

Fremont, Calif. - The Men's Wearhouse, Inc. has named Ben Baum as executive VP and chief digital officer, reporting to Doug Ewert, CEO. In this newly created position, Baum will lead all digital and omnichannel commerce and initiatives across digital, mobile and emerging platforms.

Baum previously served as chief digital officer of Bebe Stores Inc.; head of business development, multichannel retail, shopping at Google Inc.; and several merchandising positions at Target, including women's apparel and segmentation merchandising.

Irvine, Calif.  -- Boot Barn Holdings announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Sheplers, a 116-year old western lifestyle company with 25 stores across the United States. The purchase price was put at $147 million in cash.

By rebranding the Sheplers stores to the Boot Barn banner, consistent with the strategies of its prior two acquisitions, Boot Barn will enhance its store footprint by adding eight new retail markets and build its position in Texas and Colorado.

Men's Wearhouse is turning to a veteran of Google and Bebe Stores to be its new chief digital officer in charge of all digital and omnichannel initiatives.

Ben Baum will become EVP and CDO and report to Doug Ewert, CEO. Baum will lead all digital and omni-channel commerce and initiatives across digital, mobile and emerging platforms within the Men's Wearhouse organization including all individual brands and businesses via integrated omnichannel solutions.

Dodgeville, Wis. -- Lands' End has launched a new microsite on its website that will allow customers to shop stylized product from key assortments of men, women, and kids. Zanna Roberts Rassi, senior fashion editor for Marie Claire and longtime fashion stylist, has been named as the first guest editor to curate five summer collections of her Lands' End favorites.

Boot Barn is stepping up its e-commerce game with the acquisiton of Sheplers for a purchase price of $147 million.

Duluth, Georgia -- NCR announced that California-based apparel retailer M. Fredric is enhancing its retail point-of-sale (POS) and inventory management systems with NCR Counterpoint.

The solution provides M. Fredric with a single retail management software platform to closely track purchases and inventory levels in real-time across its nine brick-and-mortar locations and e-commerce store. By providing real-time sales data, NCR Counterpoint will enable M. Fredric to benefit from increased visibility for stock purchasing decisions.

Hingham, Mass. -- WS Development and Derby Street Shoppes continue to add new and exciting retailers to the vibrant mix of existing shops, boutiques and restaurants by announcing the opening of DavidsTea and Sephora. DavidsTea, expects to open its only location on the South Shore in mid-summer, while perfume and cosmetics retailer, Sephora, hopes to open later this year.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Abercrombie & Fitch Monday in favor of a Muslim woman who filed a lawsuit after she was denied a job at a store operated by the retailer because she wore a head scarf for religious reasons.