Apparel

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. — The North Face, the outdoor product company specializing in outerwear, footwear and backpacks, is partnering with state parks around the country to encourage participation in outside activities. 

New York -- Bloomingdale’s plans to open a 167,000-sq.-ft., three-level store at the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu in fall 2015. It will be the retailer’s first location in the state of Hawaii.

The new store will be part of a redevelopment of a portion of Ala Moana, by GeneralGrowth Properties. Construction will begin in 2014. The upscale chain of department stores, owned by Macy’s, will join a Macy’s store which already operates at the shopping center.

Seattle -- Nordstrom Inc. reported its first quarter net income fell a greater-than-expected 3%, hurt by weak demand for spring merchandise and softer performance in the Northeast and Midwest. The company also lowered its full-year sales forecast.

The results were a rare miss for the upscale department store chain whose shoppers have proved resilient throughout the uncertain economy.

Houston -- Stage Stores reported a loss of $6.9 million for the first quarter, compared with a loss of $418,000 for the year-ago period, as the retailer dealt with cool weather that put a damper on sales of spring apparel.
 
"The unseasonably cool weather in March and April, particularly when compared to last year's warm spring, strongly impacted our sales performance," president and CEO Michael Glazer said.

Revenue rose 4% to $378.6 million from $365.7 million. Same-store sales inched up 0.7%.
 

Seattle -- Online jewelry retailer Blue Nile has appointed Mindy Meads to its board of directors. Meads previously served as co-CEO of Aeropostale and president and CEO of Victoria’s Secret, among other executive posts in a 35-year apparel retail career. She also serves on the board of Wet Seal.

Philadelphia -- Tex-Mex family restaurant operator Uncle Julio’s will join Plymouth Meeting Mall in late 2013, according to mall owner Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT), based in Philadelphia.

The 9,300-sq.-ft. location will be the first in Pennsylvania, and marks the completion of The Plaza Shops extension, which is anchored by Whole Foods and includes Massage Envy, Coldwater Creek, Loft, Chico’s, Olly Shoes, Orvis, and Jos. A. Bank.

PLANO, Texas — J.C. Penney reported a deeper-than-expected loss of $348 million for its first quarter, compared to $163 million in the year-ago period, amid a 16.4% decline in revenue. The results came as the company seeks to undo the damage caused by former CEO Ron Johnson’s costly and largely failed makeover.

CINCINNATI — Bloomingdale’s is heading to Hawaii for the first time. It plans to open a 167,000-sq.-ft., three-level store at the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu on the Island of Oahu in fall 2015. 

The new store will be part of a redevelopment of a portion of Ala Moana, Hawaii’s premier shopping destination, by General Growth Properties. Construction will begin in 2014. The upscale chain of department stores, owned by Macy’s, will join a Macy’s store which already operates at the shopping center.

SEATTLE — Nordstrom reported its first quarter net income fell a greater-than-expected 3%, hurt by weak demand for spring merchandise and softer performance in the Northeast and Midwest. The company also lowered its full-year sales forecast.

The results were a rare miss for the upscale department store chain whose shoppers have proved resilient throughout the uncertain economy.

San Diego -- Despite being the most tech-savvy generation in history, Generation Y, the 80-million strong cohort of Americans between the ages of 18 and 35, has not forsaken shopping in stores for online purchasing – as long as retailers keep their offerings "fresh" and interesting, according to a new report from the Urban Land Institute (ULI).