Apparel

New York – Ann Inc., parent company of Ann Taylor and The Loft, expects net sales and same-store sales to increase for the fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2013, on a year-over-year basis. For the full year, Ann Inc. issued guidance for total net sales of $2.49 billion, reflecting a total net sales increase of 5% and a same-store sales increase of 2%.

Washington, D.C. -- Retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 4.1% in 2014, up from the preliminary 3.7% growth seen in 2013, according to the National Retail Federation. The association’s 2014 economic forecast, released Thursday, calls for online sales to grow between 9% and 12%.

A number of factors contributed to NRF’s 2014 economic forecast, including:

Seattle — Nordstrom has announced plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at Mercer Mall near Princeton, N.J. Plans call for the approximately 35,000-sq.-ft. store to open in the spring of 2015.

Mercer Mall is owned and managed by Federal Realty Investment Trust www.federalrealty.com. The new store will add to the current tenant line up, which includes T.J.Maxx, Bed Bath & Beyond, DSW and Shop Rite.

Edmonton, Canada -- Sport Chek on Wednesday opened an 80,000 sq.-ft. flagship in Canada's West Edmonton Mall. The store is designed to offer a personalized shopping experience that connects consumers to the sports they are passionate about.

The space includes 800 screens that display product images, promotions and local sports information. It features over 1,200 sq. ft. of digital projection.

Seattle-based Nordstrom plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at Christiana Fashion Center in Newark, Del. The approximately 35,000-sq.-ft. store, which is scheduled to open in fall 2015, is the company’s first Rack location in the state.

The single-level, newly built Nordstrom Rack is located at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 1, adjacent to Christiana Mall and will be surrounded by a strong tenant mix.

Fremont, Calif. - Customers in the U.S. and around the world can now shop on the Men’s Wearhouse e-commerce site and ship directly to themselves or friends and family in more than 100 countries. Men's Wearhouse says it introduced international shipping in response to customer requests to do so.  

New York -- Seattle-based Nordstrom plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at Christiana Fashion Center in Newark, Del. The approximately 35,000-sq.-ft. store, which is scheduled to open in fall 2015, is the company’s first Rack location in the state.

The single-level, newly built Nordstrom Rack is located at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 1, adjacent to Christiana Mall and will be surrounded by a strong tenant mix.

Topshop/Topman plans to open a 40,000-sq-ft. flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York. The new Manhattan store will be located on the corner of 49th Street, and is adjacent to Rockefeller Center.