Apparel

New York -- William Ackman, founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, said that J.C. Penney Co. should start to see “real progress” in early 2013. Ackman made his comments in an interview Tuesday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” Pershing Square owns about 18% of J.C. Penney.

New York -- Neiman Marcus is equipping all of its 4,000 associates at its full-line stores with smartphones in an effort to better serve customers, company executives said on the retailer’s recent conference call with analysts.

Neiman’s executives also said the company plans to remodel it stores on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, and in Bal Harbour Shops, Bal Harbour, Fla.
 

New York -- Real estate advisory firm RCS Real Estate Advisors said Wednesday that it has been retained by teen retailer Delia’s to evaluate the performance of its real estate portfolio and serve as the outsourced real estate department for all retail locations. 

New York -- Levi Strauss & Co. promoted Joelle Mahler, senior VP of Americas Retail, to the new post of executive VP of the company, and president of global retail, effective immediately.

Mahler will be responsible for Levi’s retail operations worldwide, including company-owned, franchise and outlet stores, along with e-commerce.
 

Cincinnati -- Macy’s reported Wednesday that same-store sales for the month of May increased 4.2% compared with the previous year. Revenue rose 4.1% to $2.02 billion.

Hampstead, Md. -- Jos. A. Bank Clothiers reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended April 28 shrank to $14.8 million, from $17.8 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 4.2% to $201.4 million, from $193.3 million. Same-store sales dipped 1%.
 

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Co. said Wednesday that CFO Mark Hood has resigned the company, effective June 11. Russ Hammer has been named the successor.

“I’m confident [Hammer] will be able to make an immediate contribution across the company and to the work we’ve been completing in our portfolio realignment efforts,” said Diane Sullivan, president and CEO.

DALLAS — Neiman Marcus reported total revenues of $1.06 billion for the third quarter compared with $983.8 million in the prior year. Comparable revenues increased 6.7%. Operating earnings for the third quarter of fiscal year 2012 were $146.6 million compared with $123.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, an increase of 19%.

The company reported net earnings of $62.6 million for the third quarter compared with $46.2 million in the prior year, an increase of 35%.

DALLAS — Neiman Marcus is rebranding its contemporary departments within each of the 42 Neiman Marcus stores as Cusp shop-in-shops. 

Neiman Marcus first launched the Cusp brand in 2006 with two freestanding stores that offered customers a contemporary assortment including apparel, shoes, handbags and accessories in a boutique environment. The brand has grown over time and now includes a total of six Cusp stores and Cusp.com.

New York -- PayPal has confirmed partnership with 15 national retailers, including J.C. Penney, American Eagle Outfitters, Toys “R” Us and Foot Locker, for its mobile wallet service.

The other new retailers accepting PayPay’s payment service are Barnes & Noble, Office Depot, American Eagle Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, Rooms To Go, Jos. A. Bank , Aeropostale , Foot Locker , Nine West, Jamba Juice , Guitar Center, TigerDirect and Advance Auto Parts .