Apparel

Abercrombie & Fitch has extended its contract with GT Nexus to expand its cloud supply chain strategy and improve visibility into the movement of orders, payments and goods. 

Since 2010, the company has used the GT Nexus platform to support international sourcing and supplier collaboration.

Abercrombie & Fitch operates 1,053 apparel stores in 20 countries across four unique lifestyle brands: Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister Co. and Gilly Hicks. The retailer operates distinct e-commerce sites for each of the four brands. 

New York -- Despite their love of the internet, Generation Y shoppers remain loyal brick-and-mortar shoppers, according to survey results by the Urban Land Institute. One caveat, however, is that the physical shopping experience must be exciting.

Boston -- City Sports announced that it will open its latest retail store this week at 225 Franklin Street, marking the company's eighth store in its hometown Boston market and first in the city's financial district.
 
The Franklin Street store will open the week of Sept. 9, giving a fresh look to the space once occupied by State Street. This will be the brand's second new store in the Boston area this year, following the opening of City Sports' Chestnut Hill location at The Street this past spring.

Dallas -- Tuesday Morning Corp. said it has appointed Jeffrey Boyer as executive VP, chief administrative officer and CFO, effective immediately. Boyer fills both the existing chief administrative officer vacancy and replaces outgoing CFO Stephanie Bowman.

Boyer previously was CFO, then COO of 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, and has also served as CFO of Michael’s Stores and Kmart Corp.  

Littleton, Mass. – Dover Saddlery Retail plans to open its first store in Florida next month. Located in Winter Park, just north of Orlando, the new Dover Saddlery store will offer the retailer’s full line of equestrian products as well as in-store services such as a saddle demo program and custom boot and coat fittings.

"We are excited to open our first store in Florida and join the equestrian community of Winter Park and the surrounding areas," said Ken Cavanaugh, director of retail at Dover Saddlery.

Warrendale, Pa. – Two independent proxy voting advisory firms, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis & Co., have both recommended that rue21 shareholders vote for a proposed acquisition by Apax Partners. As previously announced on May 23, 2013, rue21 entered into a definitive agreement under which funds advised by Apax Partners will acquire all outstanding shares of rue21 for $42 per share in cash.

Akron, Ohio - Sterling Jewelers and Zale Corporation have reached a negotiated settlement of a lawsuit pending in The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The suit, originally filed in November 2012, alleged that Zale was engaging in false advertising by calling one of its diamonds “the most brilliant diamond in the world.”

The settlement will go into effect March 2014. Details are confidential.

Dallas – Neiman Marcus is reportedly closing in on a deal to be purchased by Ares Management and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for $6 billion.

Neiman Marcus is closing in on a deal to be purchased by Ares Management and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for $6 billion, according to reports.

Macy’s is looking to enhance its appeal to Millennial customers by expanding its athletic apparel assortment, which will include Nike, the North Face, Under Armour, Calvin Klein Performance and Ideology, to more stores this fall and the addition of Helly Hansen in select locations. 

This expansion is part of the retailer’s Millennial strategy designed to attract a new generation of customers looking for trend, style and value. Macy’s will begin rolling out new product for men, women and kids to stores and on macys.com this month.