Apparel

LOS ANGELES — Specialty sporting goods retailer Sport Chalet is teaming up with California Triathlon, a statewide network of triathlon clubs in California, as part of its strategy to position itself as a one-stop shopping destination for triathletes.

The partnership drives foot traffic into Sport Chalet's brick-and-mortar stores by encouraging members of the various participating triathlon clubs to turn to the retailer for the equipment and gear they need.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Branded footwear and accessories retailer DSW recently leveraged social media to hold a contest encouraging existing and potential consumers to vote for nonprofit organizations nominated by DSW employees.

As part of the retailer's Shoe Lovers Care Leave Your Mark program, DSW employees nominated nearly 200 nonprofit organizations for the opportunity to win a grant. Finalists were selected by DSW and then presented via social media for public voting, which wrapped up in late June 2013.

NEW YORK — Macy's is launching its latest Parisian-inspired fashion brand, Maison Jules, atop a limited-edition bicycle — so to speak — in collaboration with Martone Cycling Company.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Columbia Sportswear Company has appointed Russ Hopcus as SVP of North American sales, a newly created position that will report directly to president and CEO Tim Boyle, effective July 29.

In this new role, Hopcus will develop and execute wholesale sales and distribution strategies for the company’s Columbia and Sorel brands in the U.S. and Canada.

New York -- The growing appeal of smaller format stores and the increasing number of international moves by emerging market retailers are two of the key trends revealed in the Accenture Globalization Index, Quarter One 2013.

New York -- Michael Kors is suing Costco Corp., accusing the chain of illegally using pictures of its pocketbooks in its ads to attract customers, according to the Associated Press. Michael Kors said Costco was not authorized to sell the designer's goods.

In a federal lawsuit, Michael Kors accused Costco of using the bags as a lure. It claimed Costco advertised the bags as starting at $99, but didn't actually have any to sell, the report said.

NEW YORK — Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo, a division of Fast Company, is expanding its U.S. footprint with the opening of 10 stores this fall in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and California.

The new locations, all in shopping centers, will bring the brand’s presence in the United States to a total of 17 sites.

A five-year plan spearheaded by Walmart, Gap and other U.S. retailers requiring factories in Bangladesh to be inspected within a year is under fire, according to a Bloomberg report.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Stein Mart reported total sales for the five-week period ended July 6, of $109 million, an increase of 2.6% from $106.3 for the prior-year period. Comparable store sales increased 6.5%.

BRISBANE, Calif. — Global specialty retailer Bebe reported retail sales of $109 million for the fourth fiscal quarter ended July 6, a decrease of 8.5% compared to $119.1 million for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2012. 

Comparable store sales for the quarter decreased 7.1% compared to a decrease of 2.5% in the fourth fiscal quarter of the prior year. The decrease was primarily driven by the negative comparable store traffic during the quarter, with April being the most negative.