Apparel

Las Vegas -- Simon Property Group, a global leader in retail real estate, announced that it has opened a 25-store expansion of Las Vegas North Premium Outlets.

The center is now one of the largest in the country with 175 stores. The expansion features designer and name brands, including Neiman Marcus Last Call Studio, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, AG Adriano Goldschmied, AllSaints, Bally, Canali, Catimini, CH Carolina Herrera, Citizen, Helmut Lang, John Varvatos, Rag & Bone, Under Armour, and Vera Bradley.

New York - Cole Haan is launching Apple Pay within its mobile shopping application. The retailer partnered with mobile commerce platform, PredictSpring, to build the Cole Haan iPhone, iPad and Android mobile apps.

Notable features include Shop the Look, allowing consumers to shop directly from the Cole Haan Instagram feed, as well as geo-fencing technology that alerts consumers to nearby Cole Haan stores. The Cole Haan app with Apple Pay is available for free download on the iTunes App Store.
 

Philadelphia - Five Below will make its initial entry into the Kansas City, Missouri market with the opening of three stores on May 15. The tween and teen specialty retailer expects to open a total of 70 new stores during 2015, on top of opening 62 stores in 2014

The three approximately 7,500-sq.-ft. Five Below Kansas City stores are located in Tiffany Springs Market Center in Kansas City, Adam's Dairy Landing in Blue Springs, Missouri, and Olathe Pointe Shopping Center in Olathe, Kansas.

Strong growth in its e-commerce divisions couldn't lift profits at Nordstrom Inc., which reported a drop in earnings for the first quarter. 

For the period ended May 2, Nordstrom reported a profit of $128 million, or 66 cents a share, down from $140 million, or 72 cents a share, a year earlier. The retailer also reported that Nordstrom.com and Nordstromrack.com had a combined 70% increase in sales in the first quarter.

New York – Fast-fashion retailer H&M estimates that it will continue to expand annually at a rate of 10% to 15%, which would take the U.S. store count to more than 400 and the total store count to almost 4,000 stores by the end of the year.

During 2015, the Swedish retailer has thus far announced it will open 61 stores, including the Herald Square flagship in New York City, which will become the largest H&M in the world when it opens on May 20.

Kohl’s couldn't combat weak consumer spending in the first quarter despite launching a loyalty program and new advertising initiatives.

Kevin Mansell, Kohl's chairman, chief executive officer and president, said: "Sales were modestly below our original expectations for the quarter, but accelerated in the March/April combined period after a weak February. We are very pleased with our earnings results, with a more balanced promotional calendar driving merchandise margin combined with strong expense control."

Toronto – Canadian Tire Corp. pumped up profit in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, expanding net income 17% to $88.3 million from $75.6 million a year earlier. Improved margins helped inflate net income totals.

Falling petroleum costs helped deflate revenue 2% to $2.51 billion from $2.57 billion, although consolidated same-store sales rose 5.5%. Same-store sales grew at all core retailer banners, including lifts of 4.7% at Canadian Tire, 8.6% at FGL Sports and 5.5% at Mark’s.

Dillard’s joined Macy’s, Kohl’s and JCPenney in reporting lackluster results as a result of weak sales in the first quarter.

For the first quarter ended May 2, Dillard’s reported of $109.6 million, or $2.66 a share, compared with $111.7 million, or $2.56 a share, in the prior year quarter. Same-store sales declined 1%.