Apparel

Washington, D.C. – Retail sales fell in September for the first time in six months, but the decline was credited to a drop-off in auto purchases. Most U.S. retail sectors experienced broad sales gains during the month, according to the National Retail, which reported that,  excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, retail sales grew a seasonally 0.6% compared to the previous month and 3.8% unadjusted compared to the prior year.

Results of specific sectors include:

New York – The Jones Group Inc’s net income rose a better-than-expected 67% in the third quarter, increasing to $28.3 million from $17.8 million.

However, revenues in the quarter ended Oct. 5 fell about 1%, to $1.02 billion from $1.03 billion.

Brooklyn, N.Y. -- Lifestyle/Trimco/Viaggio, the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based manufacturer of mannequins, forms, specialty fixtures, fabric applications, seasonal trim and holiday décor, has merged with Almax, the world-renowned mannequin company based in Italy.
 
The new company, Global Visual Group, will make its debut at A.R.E.’s Retail Design Collective, which will be in New York City, December 4-6, 2013.   

New York -- Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. has implemented Gerber Technology’s YuniquePLM software for its men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel and footwear lines. The vertical retailer is using the product lifecycle management (PLM) solution to ensure its many teams are able to collaborate and communicate optimally to increase speed and efficiency of getting products to market.

Joseph Coradino stepped up to the post of CEO at Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust in June of 2012. At the time, he had been with PREIT and a predecessor company for three decades. Since 2004, he had served as president of PREIT Services and PREIT-RUBIN. He had been a Trustee since 2006.

Lululemon has appointed Tara Poseley as the company’s chief product officer. In this role, Poseley will oversee the company’s global merchandising and design strategy, working hand in hand with its design team including Deanne Schweitzer, SVP and head of women’s design, and Felix Del Toro, SVP and head of men’s design.

Poseley, who will be reporting to CEO Christine Day, will be responsible for merchandising, inventory, allocation and strategic planning.

PBTeen is heading to Long Island, N.Y., for the first time. The PBteen store will join sister brands Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids in the first-ever combined location at Walt Whitman Shops, with pass-through access to all three stores. The new store will feature the retailer's new holiday gift assortment.

The Jones Group had better-than-expected third-quarter results for fiscal 2013, as net income soared 67% to $28.3 million from $17.8 million. However, revenues in the quarter ended Oct. 5 fell about 1%, to $1.02 billion from $1.03 billion.

Retail sales fell in September for the first time in six months, but the decline was credited to a drop-off in auto purchases. Most U.S. retail sectors actually experienced broad sales gains during the month, according to the National Retail Federation, which reported that, excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, retail sales grew a seasonally 0.6% compared to the previous month and 3.8% unadjusted compared to the prior year.

Results of specific sectors include:

New York -- The attorney general of the state of New York is investigating Macy's and Barneys following complaints from black customers that they were stopped by police after making expensive luxury purchases, according to the New York Daily News. The local New York media has dubbed the practice “shop-and-frisk.”