Apparel

New York -- Shoppers in the United States are most likely to combine online and in-person sources when buying consumer electronics (70%), toys (66%), apparel (58%), and home appliances (57%), according to a new study by Gfk. At the low end of the omnichannel spectrum in the United States are cleaning products (14%), OTC medications (15%), and food and beverages (15%).

The study shows that, across 12 categories, 37% of U.S. shoppers – and 29% globally – are turning to both online and in-store shopping when making purchases.

Plano, Texas – J.C. Penney Company, Inc. has reportedly named Jan Hodges, a senior marketing executive who has been with the retailer for 25 years, to the position of senior VP and general manager of home goods. According to Reuters, Penney CEO Myron Ullman sent out an employee memo on Oct. 3 informing workers that Hodges would assume the new position on Nov. 1.

Los Angeles — Mack Urban Real Estate Group and AECOM Capital have acquired six acres in the Los Angeles central business district. The $80 million transaction is the largest land acquisition in the CBD since before the recession. The seller was EVOQ Properties.

The acquisition is part of a Mack Urban and AECOM plan to build a portfolio of class A, institutional quality multifamily developments in West Coast gateway cities.

Fort Worth, Texas — Epiphany Boutique will open a 1,463-sq.-ft. store at West 7th, a mixed-use development at the intersection of West Seventh Street and University Drive in Fort Worth, according to Cypress Equities, the developers of West 7th.

The store is slated to open in early October. Centennial Retail Services represented the landlord. Epiphany Boutique represented itself.

Columbus, Ohio – Lane Bryant officially reopens its store at the West Towne mall in Madison, Wis. on Friday, Oct. 4 with a new look. On the same day Lane Bryant opens a new store in Houston.

The store will celebrate its grand opening at both stores from Oct. 4 through Oct. 6. Customers who shop at those location during the weekend will be able to enter for a chance to win one of 150 $25 Lane Bryant gift cards.

Denton, Texas — Cencor Realty Services has named Carrie Carter director of marketing for Golden Triangle Mall in Denton, Texas. Carter’s new responsibilities include creating and executing the mall’s marketing, public relations, advertising and social media programs. She will also support the mall’s current renovation through the development of marketing, collateral and presentation materials.

Houston — Jones Lang LaSalle’s Capital Markets group has closed the sale of Montgomery Plaza on behalf of Weingarten Realty Investors. American National Insurance Company purchased the 304,867-sq.-ft. shopping center, located in Conroe, Texas.

Montgomery Plaza retailers include Academy Sports & Outdoors, Big Lots, Conn’s Appliances, 99 Cents Only and Petco. In addition to the inline space, there are two multi-tenant pads and two single-tenant pads.

A new marketing campaign from Fruit of the Loom called “Start Happy,” includes an innovative LinkedIn component that rewards those who start a new job with free underwear.

The LinkeIn component is called, “Fresh Gigs,” and runs through the month of October and builds on the central premise of the campaign which is that underwear has the ability to influence the entire day, thus the “Start Happy,” tag line.