Apparel

Real-time broadcasting and commerce company Brandlive announced that it would be partnering with New Balance for a four-day campaign to debut additions to the shoe company’s 880 line.

Through Aug. 14, Brandlive will introduce retailers and New Balance to the sneakers, and New Balance will use the platform to train field representatives and brief them on the new line of shoes.

Profitero, a leading global provider of online insights and e-commerce intelligence for retailers and brands, has appointed Raj Khathuria as VP of sales for North America.

Khathuria has more than 17 years of sales management experience. He previously led the North American sales operation for MarkMonitor, a global leader in online brand protection (acquired by Thomson Reuters in 2012), where he was responsible for growth in key vertical markets including consumer goods, luxury apparel and electronics.

Hudson, Ohio – Travis Smith has resigned as president and CEO of Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. Until a replacement has been identified, Jim Kerr, executive VP and CFO, will serve as Interim CEO of the company, while continuing in his current role as CFO.

The board of directors is undertaking a comprehensive search to identify a replacement. In his role as interim CEO, Kerr will partner with Riddi Kline, executive VP of marketing and merchandising, and Tom Williams, executive VP of operations and HR, to manage the business.

New York – Although Macy’s Inc. reported a 4% increase in net income to $292 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, from $281 million in the same period a year earlier, the company still missed Wall Street expectations. Leftover merchandise from a sluggish first quarter helped keep Macy’s profit growth down.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Southern department store chain Belk has promoted Jan Clevenger from chair of the company’s Western Division in Birmingham, Alabama, to the position of executive VP and general merchandise manager over Men’s, Home and Kids.

David Luoma has been promoted to succeed Clevenger in the Western Division chair position.

Jan Clevenger has been named EVP and general merchandising manager of men’s, home and kids, reporting to newly named president and chief merchandising officer David Zant.

Clevenger has served as chair of the Belk Western Division based in Birmingham, Alabama, since March 2008. She began her retail career with Macy's in 1984 in store management before becoming a buyer for men’s and center core.  

Macy’s tempered its full year sales forecast after solid second quarter results and growing optimism around omnichannel initiatives weren’t enough to offset a slow start to the year.

Macy’s said sales increased 3.3% to $6.267 billion and same store sales increased 4% during the second quarter ended August 2. Excluding sales in departments licensed to third parties same store sales increase 3.4%. Profits increased to $292 million, or 80 cents a share, from $281 million, or 72 cents a share.

New York – XO Group Inc., parent company of online maternity and wedding retailers such as TheBump.com and TheKnot.com, has named Dhanusha Sivajee as executive VP marketing, responsible for overseeing the brand, consumer marketing, partnerships and communications. Sivajee joined XO Group from AOL, where she served as chief marketing officer for the AOL Brand Group and drove audience growth across AOL's portfolio of digital brands.