Apparel

HOUSTON — Stage Stores has signed an agreement with Alliance Data Retail Services, making it the provider of a full suite of private label credit card services geared toward driving sales and brand loyalty to grow Stage Stores’ customer base. In addition, Alliance Data and Stage Stores will collaborate to develop and launch a new, simplified loyalty program, with enhanced benefits and incentives exclusive to cardholders.

Houston -- Stage Stores and Alliance Data Systems Corp. announced Monday they have forged private-label credit card renewal agreement.

San Jose, Calif. -- Beall's has agreed to use VeriFone Systems' recently introduced MX 915 payment and media-enabled solutions system. Beall’s also will be complementing the MX 915 with VeriFone HQ, an estate management solution allowing the retailer to keep stores up to date with evolving payment and mobile solutions.

Las Vegas -- Former Sports Authority chief David Campisi has been named chairman and CEO of Respect Your Universe, a performance apparel company.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- A report released Monday by the Associated Press said that Sears Holdings Corp. would be spinning off its Hometown and Outlet stores, along with some hardware stores, into a separate, publicly traded company.

Earlier this year, Sears had revealed it would split the companies but had not indicated the new organization would be a separate public entity.

There are approximately 1,238 Hometown, Outlet and hardware stores. Five Hometown stores have been closed, along with eight hardware stores and one Outlet unit.

From J.C. Penney to Target to Selfridges, retailers across the spectrum are giving over valuable floor space to in-store shops. Here are some interesting observations on the phenomenon from Joanna Felder, VP intelligence and brand strategy at Chute Gerdeman, Columbus, Ohio.

Shop-in-shops offer retailers the magic formula of flexibility, brand-enhancing cachet and the ability to attract new customer segments. The opportunity has never been better for young, entrepreneurial hip brands to find a mainstream home.

CINCINNATI — DunnhumbyUSA has appointed a new VP business development.

The company said Brian Murphy will be responsible in leading its growth with retail partners in consumer markets, adding that Murphy's role "is instrumental in aligning business objectives and strategy to build measurable and sustainable value as DunnhumbyUSA expands its retail footprint into industry verticals such as apparel, beauty and food service."

Murphy joins DunnhumbyUSA from SBC Advertising, a leading retail advertising agency in Columbus, Ohio.

DALLAS — The Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Marvel Custom Solutions on Thursday announced the 13th collaborative issue of an “Avengers” comic book, available only through AAFES locations.

Marvel and AAFES have printed 1 million copies of the free comic book and currently are available at Exchange stores worldwide while supplies last.

Specialty retailer Express expects to have its first stores in Latin America open by year end.

Vince Camuto's namesake store in Grand Central Station, New York City, reflects the footwear's designer's edgy and feminine style and modern sensibility with mirrored product displays and polished chrome metal accents. Other materials include white lacquer and a ceramic floor.

The design team created a  shelving system that  wraps the columns on the left side while connecting them on the right side.  The color palette takes on different shades of gray for a balance of modernism and sophistication.