Apparel

This week, a three-year-old Great Dane from Portland made headlines for consuming 43.5 socks. Hanes is capitalizing on the trending story by offering the mischievous pooch free dog treats for the rest of his life. 

“While Hanes believes its socks are tasty footwear,” the company said in a statement, “it hopes this offer will get the Great Dane snacking on something that's much more pleasant for his tummy.”

Casual apparel brand U.S. Polo Assn. has opened its first location in Brooklyn, in the vicinity of the Barclays Arena.

Designed by Montroy Andersen DeMarco (MADGI), New York, the 2,800-sq.-ft. space has a clean, modern feel and includes  the brand’s signature ‘flag wall’ fashioned out of folded T-shirts,  a jeans island and a T-shirt island, and a 12-ft.-long cash wrap counter

Nashville, Tenn. - Genesco Inc. recently extended its relationship with EarthLink, with future plans to use the network in new ways to enhance the customer shopping experience. A longtime EarthLink customer, Genesco relies on a private EarthLink MPLS network to run all in-store point-of-sale, inventory management and employee communications and training in its Johnston & Murphy, Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Underground by Journeys and Shï by Journeys stores.

New York – Shoppers spent $50.17 billion online during the 2014 back-to-school shopping season, which represents a 16% gain from $43.26 billion in the year-ago period, according to eMarketer. Online commerce during the months of July and August — the main months for back-to-school shopping — accounted for approximately one-sixth of retail ecommerce sales for the year, according to eMarketer estimates, as well as 70.5% of retail ecommerce sales in third quarter 2014.

Walmart has reportedly issued a new dress code and staff members are not happy, according to Gawker.

Complex magazine reported that the new dress code “requires certain employees to wear white or navy blue collared shirts with khaki or pants, capris, or skirts,” according to Walmart human resources executive Barbara Simone.

Evansville, Ind. – Increases in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) drove a year-over-year reduction in net income during the second quarter of fiscal 2014 at Shoe Carnival Inc. The company reported net income of $2.58 million, down 59% from $5.84 million the same period a year earlier.

Net sales fared better, rising 3% to $222.1 million from $216.4 million. Same-store sales dropped 2.1%.

J.C. Penney Co. is testing new design treatments, merchandise presentations and service options at its new — and first ever — location in Brooklyn, New York. Located at Gateway Center, the 124,000-sq.-ft., single-level store boasts a contemporary exterior that incorporates clean lines, large glass panels, red accents and the unmistakable Penney logo.

The interior is bright and modern, with large murals of local landmarks. A variety of flooring surfaces, including polished concrete, wood laminates and grey ceramic tile, complement the streamlined design.

Saks Fifth Avenue continues to step up its digital efforts with its launch of a user-generated content hub called #SaksStyle.

Created by Curalate on its Fanreel image integration platform, #SaksStyle will function as a daily go-to guide for fashion inspiration created solely by Saks customers, highlighting products purchased from Saks Fifth Avenue locations nationwide and online.