Apparel

NEW YORK — A major renovation may be underway at Lululemon’s flagship store in Manhattan, but the fast growing retailer isn’t missing a beat.

The Vancouver, B.C.-based operator of 201 stores has set up a temporary store at 1142 Third Ave., across from its flagship location to satisfy the New Yorkers’ needs while the four-month renovation is underway.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Select Kmart locations will carry apparel and accessories collections developed by pop superstars Adam Levine and Nicki Minaj in an effort to boost sales. Both collections will also be available via the ShopYourWay.com social shopping platform.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced plans to open two new Nordstrom Rack stores, with one in Atlanta, at the Perimeter Expo shopping center, which is owned by Kimco Realty Corp., and the other in Naples, Fla., at The Mercato.

The 36,000-sq,-ft. Atlanta store is scheduled to open in fall 2013. The 30,000-sq.-ft. Naples store is scheduled to open in fall 2013.

Boynton Beach, Fla. -- Designer Shoe Warehouse Inc., has selected VendorNet to provide ship-from-store and dropship management solutions.

VendorNet, a wholly owned subsidiary of GSI Commerce, an eBay Inc. company, is a provider of cross-channel fulfillment and supply chain technology. DSW will use VendorNet’s StoreNet Live to implement omnichannel retail capabilities, including brick-and-mortar store fulfillment for online sales.

Old Bridge, N.J. -- Construction and leasing are now under way on Woodhaven Plaza, a new neighborhood shopping center in Old Bridge, N.J.

New York -- Uniqlo, a division of Japan’s Fast Retailing Co., will continue its U.S. expansion strategy by opening two new mall locations, at Palisades Center in West Nyack, N.Y., and Westchester’s Ridge Hill in Yonkers, N.Y. Both stores are slated to open in spring 2013.

At 24,000 total sq. ft., the Uniqlo store in Palisades Center will open in early March. (Palisades Center is the eighth largest mall in the nation.)

SUFFERN, N.Y. — Ascena Retail Group has named Dirk Montgomery as its new EVP and CFO.

Current EVP and CFO Armand Correia is retiring after 21 years with the specialty retailer, which offers clothing, shoes and accessories for missy and plus-size women and tween girls, under the Justice, Lane Bryant, Maurices, Dressbarn and Catherines brands.

Just when things seem to be looking up for Sears Holdings, chairman Edward Lampert will assume the additional responsibilities of CEO following the revelation that current chief executive Lou D’Ambrosio will leave the company for family medical reasons.

News of D’Amrosio’s departure comes as the Sears Holdings preannounced improved profitability for the fist nine weeks of the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending February 2, D’Amrosio’s last day.

WASHINGTON — National Retail Federation and the University of Phoenix will award ten current retail employees in the U.S. a Dream BIG scholarship.

Each of the ten recipients will receive full tuition at any University of Phoenix campus or online program, to encourage them to pursue career opportunities within the retail industry.

ROCKFORD — Wolverine Worldwide is making organizational changes to drive its future growth and global brand building.

Capitalizing on the momentum following Wolverine’s October 2012 acquisition of the Performance & Lifestyle Group, it will migrate from four to three brand operating groups. Wolverine expects the new operating group alignment to maximize brand synergies and leverage global growth opportunities. Veteran company leaders Ted Gedra, Mark Neal and Jim Zwiers will lead the new operating groups.