Apparel

Indianapolis – Lids Sports Group fully understands the importance of the brick-and-mortar channel when it comes to omnichannel commerce and customer experience. As Kevin Thompson, director of application development for Lids, told attendees of the recent Oracle Industry Connect conference, the retailer has implemented the Micros Locate inventory visibility solution to enable full inventory access at stores.

“It’s a customer service issue,” said Thompson. “We don’t want to disappoint customers.”

Trendy teen retailer American Apparel reported a deep decline in fourth quarter revenue, as the company grapples with a social media scandal and losses stemming from an investigation of its former CEO.

New York -- From extreme-value discounters to c-store operators, retailers across the board are expanding their brick-and-mortar portfolios in 2015. Here’s a review:

• Dollar General will open 730 new stores and remodel 875 existing locations.

• DSW Inc. will open 35 stores, including locations in at least 12 new markets.

• Express is ramping up its new outlet format with 30 locations.

Huntington Beach, Calif. -- Quiksilver announced that its CEO, Andy Mooney, has resigned. Mooney had been CEO for just over two years and was appointed chairman in November. The company’s CFO, Richard Shields, has also resigned. The news comes almost two weeks after the company reduced guidance for the current year and finished an investigation into its revenue-accounting practices.

Pierre Agnes, president of Quiksilver and a 27-year-company veteran, has been promoted to CEO and added to the board of directors.   

New York -- There is no let up of bad news for American Apparel. The company’s founder and ousted CEO, Dov Charney, plans to file a lawsuit claiming $40 million in damages related to breaches of his employment contract.

The disclosure came on the heels of news that the Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Charney’s departure.

Forbes is reporting that Amazon.com is in the preliminary stages of a deal to buy luxury retailer Net-a-porter, which could be its biggest acquisition ever according to the magazine.

Seattle-based Amazon has been making moves to expand its presence in the world of upscale fashon retailing by increasing its luxury apparel offerings.

Swiss-owned Net-a-porter has been valued at $2 billion euro.

Boston -- Cushman & Wakefield announced the sale of South Cape Village in Mashpee, Massachusetts, to Dividend Capital. The Cushman & Wakefield team oversaw the $35.45 million transaction of the Roche Brothers-anchored lifestyle center on behalf of Mashpee Investors, LLC.    

Reading, Pa. -- Specialty retailer Soft Surroundings has chosen Ambius Premium Scenting to enhance the shopping experience for its customers at all 18 retail locations. The scenting is designed to create greater customer dwell time and increase purchasing intent for this innovative retailer.