Apparel

By Steven Kramer, [email protected]

Fashion and apparel retailers are using multichannel retailing to augment the in-store experience for brand conscious shoppers. In the process, they’re delivering a compelling customer-centric expression of the retail brand that elevates the destination status of their physical stores.

Rock Hill Galleria has unveiled plans for a number of large-scale developments slated for the 470,000-sq.-ft. regional mall. 

Entertainment destination Revolutions will open a 66,640-sq.-ft. location at Rock Hill Galleria, featuring 30 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, a lazer maze and arena, bumper cars, arcade, restaurant and bar, sports theatre, plus live music and dancing. Opening is anticipated for winter 2012.

New Albany, Ohio -- Abercrombie & Fitch reported Wednesday that net income in the second quarter slid 52% to $15.5 million, compared with $32 million in the year-ago period.

Total sales rose 4% to $951.4 million, missing Wall Street’s forecast of $954.9 million, and U.S. sales fell 5%. The retailer said Wednesday it is cutting its 2012 earnings guidance and will open fewer international Hollister stores in fiscal 2012 than initially planned.
 

Los Angeles -- A PriceGrabber back-to-school survey released on Wednesday found that 48% of consumers believe retailers are offering better back-to-school shopping promotions this year.

According to the survey, 88% of consumers chose 'sales' as the top retailer promotion that will entice them to make a back-to-school purchase this year. Forty-nine percent of shoppers cited coupons; 44% noted that "free items with purchase" would persuade them to buy; and 34% selected sales available online only.

Toronto -- Sears Canada reported Wednesday a loss of $9.8 million in the second quarter, widened from a loss of $200,000 in the year-ago period.

Revenue fell 8.5% to $1.050 billion, from $1.148 billion. Same-store sales dropped 7.1%.

The retailer attributed much of the problem to warm, dry weather in many areas of Canada, which impacted sales of outdoor power equipment.

Indianapolis -- The Finish Line announced Wednesday it has named Greg Beidler as senior VP store operations for the chain.

Beidler was previously regional operations director for Sam’s Club/Wal-Mart Corp., and has served in management roles for GameStop, Brown Shoe, Circuit City and Athlete’s Foot.

Richardson, Texas -- Fossil said Wednesday it has appointed John White to the position of executive VP and COO, effective Sept. 4.

White, formerly president of Pandora North America, will be responsible for the company's supply chain, distribution and warehousing, legal and information technology operations.

 

Last June, two organizations — Retail Industry Leaders Association and International Council of Shopping Centers — co-sponsored a sustainability initiative that ultimately would set the bar for landlord/tenant partnerships.

The last 14 months haven’t been without bumps. Forging positive, mutually beneficial programs that involve cooperation from shopping center owners and their retail tenants has long been one of this industry’s greatest — and most frustrating — challenges.

Foot Locker is kicking up its heels in the United Kingdom. The footwear giant has opened a new format — The Locker Room — with an eye to rolling it out throughout England and continental Europe. The concept expands Foot Locker’s core strength in athletic footwear to include apparel and accessories for a wide range of performance sports.

All eyes are on J.C. Penney Co. as it rolls out the first wave of its branded shops to nearly 700 stores nationwide.