Apparel

WTI expects April 2014 to trend the coldest in five years and drier than last year for the U.S. as a whole. Warmer year-on-year temperature trends in the Central states will be sandwiched in between colder trends on the East and West coasts. A more active severe weather season than last year in the South Central states can be expected, especially across parts of Texas and Oklahoma. Storm cleanup supplies and plastic sheeting will see increased demand in harder hit areas.

New York -- Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M said on Thursday it will debut two of its newer retail formats, COS and & Other Stories, in the United States this year.

H&M will open its first COS U.S. location this April in New York City’s SoHo area. A second U.S. store will open later this year, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The retailer’s & Other Stories banner will make its U.S. debut this fall, opening a store in downtown Manhattan.

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp announced that its retail services business, which manages more than 130 private label and co-brand credit programs, has signed a new multi-year agreement to provide private label credit card services for women’s fashion online and catalog retailer Venus.

Predominantly an online soft-goods retailer, Venus is experiencing double-digit growth by focusing on fashion-forward merchandising trends, expanding into new fashion categories, and appealing to a customer demographic with whom digital channels resonate.

New York -- Toys “R” Us has launched a new strategy to drive future growth that includes a big emphasis on improving its in-store customer experience.

The nation’s largest toy retailer said it will update its existing stores to make them easier to shop, focusing on everything from the restrooms and lighting to the flooring and signage. It also is committed to reducing in-store clutter and improving in-stocks and checkout speed (slow checkouts registered as a big customer complaint in its research.).

New York -- Francesca’s, Maurices and tween/teen fave Five Below are in an expansion mode.

Francesca’s, based in Houston, will open about 85 stores this year, down slightly from 91 openings last year.   

Hamilton, Bermuda – Net income at Signet Jewelers grew 2% to $175.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to $171.8 million in the fourth quarter of the preceding fiscal year. Net sales increased 3% to $1.56 billion from $1.51 billion and same-store sales increased 4%.

During the full fiscal year, net income grew 2% to $368 million from $359.9 million and net sales improved 3% to $4.21 billion from $3.98 billion. Same-store sales rose 4%.

San Jose, Calif. -- EBay Enterprise, an EBay company, will open a new fulfillment center in Ontario, Canada, in second quarter 2014. The new 150,000-sq.-ft. facility will support client growth, including The Children’s Place, which recently signed a new multiyear agreement with EBay Enterprise.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Sears is launching Now + Here, a fast fashion shop available in Sears stores across the country, on Sears.com and Shopyourway.com, in the second week of April. The Now + Here shops offer a new shop environment with monthly deliveries.

The fully integrated retail experience extends online with access to exclusive content, including behind the scenes videos and fashion tips.

Columbus, Ohio – DSW Inc. opens three new stores April 3. The stores will be located in Reading, Pa., Olympia, Wash., and White Plains, N.Y.

DSW Rewards is a free loyalty program in which customers earn certificates toward future DSW purchases and receive special member-only offers. Customers can also participate in a Shoe Lover community on Facebook.

New York -- Robert Graham has signed a new lease agreement to open a branded retail store featuring the full Robert Graham collection in NorthPark Center in Dallas. The store will carry the complete range of Robert Graham, including men's sportswear, premium denim, furnishings, accessories, outerwear, newly launched footwear collection and women's sportswear.

NorthPark Center features a unique backdrop of art, architecture and landscaping for the enjoyment of its discerning customers. The Robert Graham store will open in late Spring 2014.