Apparel

San Francisco – Gap Inc. has reportedly signed a non-binding agreement for Australia-based Oroton Group to take control of its franchise operation in Australia, New Zealand, and some Pacific islands. According to the Wall Street Journal, Oroton Group will start running Gap’s three franchise stores in Australia in November 2013 and purchase some inventory and store fixtures from current Gap franchisee Brand Republic Pty Ltd.

Centreville, Va. — Sleepy’s The Mattress Professionals has opened a 6,700-sq.-ft. store in Centreville Square II on Lee Highway in Centreville, Va.

A.J. Dwoskin represented the landlord in the lease negotiations. Centreville Square II is a 200,366-sq.-ft. neighborhood center. Current tenants include Party Depot, Five Guys, Wells Fargo, Hair Cuttery and The UPS Store.

New York -- Perry Ellis International has launched a new e-commerce site dedicated to selling Callaway Golf Apparel. The Callawayapparel.com site offers U.S. and Canadian customers a fully branded, state-of-the-art online shopping experience, and will be available throughout Latin America by mid-November.

Fashion retailer Neiman Marcus and Popsugar, a leading global media and technology company at the intersection of content and commerce, have teamed up to create a limited-edition box filled with a luxury assortment of gifts that can be shipped directly to consumers’ homes.

Uniqlo has opened a pop-up store in the 14th Street-Union Square subway station in Manhattan, and is incentivizing holiday shoppers by offering them a $5 Metro Card in a limited-edition sleeve with any purchase. The pop-shop will be open through the holidays.

“This shop fits perfectly with our strong belief in the fundamental power of clothing to improve people’s lives, and our hope is that it will provide people with comfort and warmth during the winter season,” said Larry Meyer, COO of Uniqlo USA.
 

Foothill Ranch, Calif. – The Wet Seal Inc. revising its financial guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 ending November 2, 2013. The company now expects to report a same-store sales increase in the low-single digits, compared to previously forecast mid-single digits, as well as a larger net loss than previously estimated.

Benicia, Calif. — Cycle Gear has announced the opening of its first New York State store in Hicksville. With this new location, Cycle Gear has stores in 31 states. Company officials said this is the first of many planned stores in New York.

Employee-owned and enthusiast-driven, Cycle Gear is an active member of the riding community, sponsoring local events and working with new and experienced riders to help them find just the right gear.

Chattanooga, Tenn. — CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. has closed on an $80 million non-recourse loan secured by The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta, a 75/25 joint venture with Horizon Group Properties. The 10-year loan bears a 4.9% fixed interest rate. Proceeds from the loan were used to repay a $53.2 million recourse construction loan. CBL www.cblproperties.com used its share of the remaining funds to reduce outstanding balances on the company’s unsecured credit facilities.