Apparel

Canton, Mass. -- Destination XL Group Inc. grew sales and margin and swung to a profit in its fourth-quarter, reporting net income of $1.6 million, after a $55.1 million loss in the same period a year earlier. It also announced plans to open 40 DXL stores in 2015.

The retailer of men’s big and tall apparel reported revenue of $119.6 million in the period. Sales per square foot in DXL stores rose 10% to $165. Total same-store sales increased 8.9%.

Teen and tween specialty retailer Five Below is accelerating store growth this year even though its relatively young store base mustered a modest 3.2% fourth quarter same store sales increase.

Five Below opened 62 new stores last year compared to 60 units the prior year to end the year with 366 locations in 21 states. The additional selling space and a 3.2% comp increase caused sales to increase 24.4% to $264 million from $212 million. Profits increased to $33.3 million compared to $24.8 million.

New York -- Thor Equities has signed a contract to acquire a prime retail and office property at 102 Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris. “102 Avenue des Champs-Elysees is at the center of one of the most desirable locations in the world, just blocks from the Arc de Triomphe and Place Charles de Gaulle,” said Joseph Sitt, CEO of Thor Equities.  “We continue to believe strongly in the Paris retail market, in particular prime shopping and tourist destinations such as the Champs-Elysees and Boulevard Haussmann.”
 

New York -- Facebook hopes to transform the way  customers communicate with retailers by re-inventing the customer service platform. Facebook and its partner Zendesk, a customer service platform firm, are teaming up to allow businesses to provide scalable and responsive customer service to the more than 600 million people worldwide who use Facebook's popular Messenger app. The social media giant is inviting retailers and other companies to develop software that allows customers to communicate instantly with them through Messenger.

Separating itself from Sears Holdings a year ago has not helped Land’s End financial footing judging from the company’s fourth quarter profit and same store sales decline.

Land’s End sales declined 4.9% to $504.6 million and net income declined 28% to $33.1 million in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 30. Merchandise sales and services were negatively impacted by a $3.4 million product recall in the quarter that negatively impacted net income by $2.6 million.

Christopher & Banks Corp.

Pittsburgh -- American Eagle Outfitters is expanding its global retail presence with a series of licensed stores throughout Chile and Peru, building on existing growth markets throughout the region, including Colombia, Panama and the Caribbean, as well as company owned stores in Mexico.

The company has signed a multi-year license agreement with Eurofashion Limitada, a leading Chilean company and division of the Cencosud S.A. Group specialized in developing national and international fashion brands.

Nashville, Tenn. -- JLL announced the firm has been retained to manage One Hundred Oaks located in Nashville, Tennessee, on behalf of LaSalle Investment Management. The nearly 1 million-sq.-ft. medical mixed-use property sits on 54 acres, half of which houses the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The property’s retail tenant mix includes national, regional and local retailers, and is anchored by Regal Theatres, Burlington Coat Factory, Ross, TJ Maxx, Petsmart and Michaels.