Apparel

Dallas -- Zale Corp. today announced the addition of consumer finance company, Genesis Financial Solutions, Inc., to its U.S. alternative financing program.

The partnership with Genesis is consistent with the company’s strategy to enhance access to financing for its customers. This new financing option, which became available in October, is offered in Zales, Zales Outlet and Gordon’s retail stores.

New York -- Marimekko will open a flagship in the heart of Beverly Hills, Calif., on Nov. 15. The 5,000 -sq.-ft. store will feature the entire range of Marimekko products, from signature fashions to home furnishings and textiles, as well as a showroom to support further business development of the brand in the area.

The Finnish textile and clothing design company, renowned for its original prints and colors, opened a store in Palo in the Stanford Shopping Center, on Oct. 25.

New York -- GA Keen Realty Advisors, LLC of New York, a division of Great American Group has begun marketing leases for 150 Bakers and Wild Pair shoe store locations across the country.

Dallas -- Zale Corp. announced the addition of Genesis Financial Solutions to its U.S. alternative financing program. The new financing option, which became available in October, is offered in Zales, Zales Outlet and Gordon’s retail stores.

Gloucester -- TradeSone Software, provider of merchandise lifecycle management (MLM) solutions that unify the design, sourcing, ordering and delivery of retail goods, announced that Ascena Retail Group has gone live with TradeStone’s PLM for Retail and  Collaborative Sourcing in 18 weeks at its subsidiary, Tween Brands, which encompasses both the Justice and Brothers retail banners.

New York -- Dillard’s third quarter merchandise sales for the quarter ended Oct. 27 increased 4% to more than $1.4 billion, same-store sales increased 5% and operating profits increased 84% to nearly $73 million. Gross margins expanded 40 basis points to 37.1% and same-store inventory levels were down 1%.

New York -- Target plans to open at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day to kick of its Black Friday promotional efforts and will follow up with additional deals that become available at 4 a.m.

The company is also rewarding its REDcard holders by allowing them early access to select Black Friday sale items at Target.com.

Dallas -- J.C. Penney Co. Inc. on Friday reported a 26.1% decline in third-quarter same-store sales, more than the 17.9% that Wall Street analysts were expecting.

Overall sales fell 26.6% to $2.93 billion. Internet sales fell 37.3% to $214 million.

The company said that its net loss narrowed to $123 million in the third quarter ended Oct. 27, from $143 million a year earlier. The loss was wider than analysts had expected.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Stein Mart Inc. announced Friday that it will restate its financial statements for fiscal years 2009, 2010 and 2011, its quarterly data for the first quarter of 2012 and for all quarters in 2010 and 2011, as well as its selected financial data for the relevant periods due to merchandising accounting errors.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Stein Mart Inc. announced Friday that it will restate its financial statements for fiscal years 2009, 2010 and 2011, its quarterly data for the first quarter of 2012 and for all quarters in 2010 and 2011, as well as its selected financial data for the relevant periods due to merchandising accounting errors.