Apparel

LOS ANGELES — Specialty sporting goods retailer Sport Chalet is teaming up with California Triathlon, a statewide network of triathlon clubs in California, as part of its strategy to position itself as a one-stop shopping destination for triathletes.

The partnership drives foot traffic into Sport Chalet's brick-and-mortar stores by encouraging members of the various participating triathlon clubs to turn to the retailer for the equipment and gear they need.

New York -- The growing appeal of smaller format stores and the increasing number of international moves by emerging market retailers are two of the key trends revealed in the Accenture Globalization Index, Quarter One 2013.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Branded footwear and accessories retailer DSW recently leveraged social media to hold a contest encouraging existing and potential consumers to vote for nonprofit organizations nominated by DSW employees.

As part of the retailer's Shoe Lovers Care Leave Your Mark program, DSW employees nominated nearly 200 nonprofit organizations for the opportunity to win a grant. Finalists were selected by DSW and then presented via social media for public voting, which wrapped up in late June 2013.

NEW YORK — Macy's is launching its latest Parisian-inspired fashion brand, Maison Jules, atop a limited-edition bicycle — so to speak — in collaboration with Martone Cycling Company.

BRISBANE, Calif. — Global specialty retailer Bebe reported retail sales of $109 million for the fourth fiscal quarter ended July 6, a decrease of 8.5% compared to $119.1 million for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2012. 

Comparable store sales for the quarter decreased 7.1% compared to a decrease of 2.5% in the fourth fiscal quarter of the prior year. The decrease was primarily driven by the negative comparable store traffic during the quarter, with April being the most negative. 

New York -- Meijer is set to open its first store in the city of Detroit on July 25, according to Crain's Detroit Business.

The store will anchor a new shopping center and will feature a grocery section, drive-thru pharmacy, gas station and Huntington National Bank branch. Other tenants at the shopping center will include clothing and pet supply stores and fast-food restaurants.

Whole Foods Market recently opened a store in Detroit.

Santa Clara, Calif. -- Most malls have food courts. Westfield Valley Fair Mall in California’s Silicon Valley has begun construction of a multi-million dollar dining terrace that will feature indoor and alfresco seating.

Where in Silicon Valley is the mall? It straddles the border between two noted Silicon Valley cities: Santa Clara and San Jose.

NEW YORK — Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo, a division of Fast Company, is expanding its U.S. footprint with the opening of 10 stores this fall in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and California.

The new locations, all in shopping centers, will bring the brand’s presence in the United States to a total of 17 sites.