Apparel

Atlanta -- Footwear retailer Shoe Carnival on April 6 will launch its first integrated national advertising campaign in support of the spring season. The campaign accompanies the brand’s U.S. expansion and debuts a new tagline, "A surprise in store."

Pittsburgh – Dick’s Sporting Goods opens a relocated store at McCandless Crossing in Pittsburgh on April 13. The original store location at Northway Mall will be closing on April 8 to make way for the new, enhanced McCandless Crossing location.

Winnetka, Calif. — dd’s Discounts, a subsidiary of Ross Dress For Less, has opened a 25,600-sq.-ft. store at Sherman Plaza in Winnetka, Calif. Kennedy Wilson represented the landlord, Sherman Plaza, in the transaction.

Epsteen and Associates represented the tenant.

Fort Worth, Texas and Napa, Calif. — A joint venture of Trademark Property Co. and Zapolski Real Estate LLC, the $30 million Napa Center transformation started in September 2013 with upgrades to common areas. Changes include new energy-efficient roofing, paint and façade upgrades, new architectural elements, expanded and updated walkways, new seating areas, landscaping, ambient lighting and signage.

Merrimack, N.H. -- Specialty retailer Brookstone Holdings Corp. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with a plan to sell itself to Spencer Spirit Holdings, owner of the Spencer’s retail chain, for about $147 million. The purchase price comprises $120 million in cash, $7.5 million in new notes and about $18.5 million of assumed liabilities.

Under the agreement with Spencer Spirit, Brookstone would continue to operate its stores in malls and airports, along with its catalog, website and wholesale business, under the Brookstone brand.

New York -- Urban Outfitters will unveil a new concept, Space Ninety 8, on April 4, in the hip Willliamsburg section of Brooklyn, N.Y.

The five-level space is located in a renovated warehouse and has an industrial look, complete with exposed ceilings and brick walls. The basement will house a rotating series of pop-ups, while the first floor will showcase independent designers and vendors, according to the Village Voice. The first floor will also be home to a vintage shop, called Urban Renewal.

By Shelley E. Kohan, VP, retail consulting, RetailNext; instructor, Fashion Institute of Technology

Consumer confidence is 10 points higher than this time last year. Spring weather forecasts show April will be warmer than average for many areas. So, how can retailers optimize sales during this season? Learning from last year’s data and trends is a great place to start.

York, Pa. -- The Bon-Ton Stores plans to open a 27,000-sq.-ft. Herberger’s Clearance Center in Maplewood, Minn. The store is scheduled to open May 2014.

“We are pleased to announce the opening of our fourth free-standing clearance center,” said Brendan Hoffman, president and CEO.

Bon-Ton Stores operates 270 department stores in 25 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson’s, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s and Younkers nameplates.