Apparel

New York City -- Tiffany & Co. reported Tuesday that sales growth weakened in the United States and Europe during the holiday season, although other regions experienced significant gains.

The company cut its yearly earnings guidance. 

Dallas -- Zale Corp. reported Tuesday that same-store sales for the holiday selling season of November and December 2011 rose 5.9%, compared with an 8.5% gain in the same period last year.

Within the two-month period, same-store store sales increased 10.1% in November and 4.2% in December.

Revenues for the two-month period were $564 million, compared with $533 million in the same period last year, an increase of 5.8%.

New York City -- Discovery Communications said Tuesday that Liz Claiborne Inc. CFO Andrew Warren is joining the company as finance chief.

Warren will succeed Brad Singer, who said last year he would depart Discovery at the end of March.

Liz Claiborne recently disclosed that Warren was leaving the company, saying he was pursuing an opportunity "in the media industry."
 

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. said Tuesday it will open between 35 and 40 stores in 2012, up from an initial plan of 15 to 20 new stores this year.

The footwear and accessories retailer also raised its annual earnings guidance.

“The expansion of our footprint into new and existing markets is a key growth initiative for us,” said Mike MacDonald, president and CEO, DSW Inc.

The majority of the new stores are slated to open in the second half of 2012, according to the company.

New York City -- Lululemon Athletica said on Friday that Dennis J. Wilson, its founder and former CEO, would step down from his current position as chief innovation and branding officer of the yogawear company at the end of January.

Wilson will remain as chairman.

Seattle -- Nordstrom plans to open a Nordstrom Rack in Tysons Corner, Va. The approximately 42,000-sq.-ft., two-level store is scheduled to open during fall 2012.

Nordstrom Rack will open in the former Filene's Basement space and join tenants Morton's Steakhouse, Bertucci's restaurant and Bank of America in a 215,000-sq.-ft.  mixed-use project. The project is owned by Rocks Tysons Two LLC and managed by Allen & Rocks, Inc. with KLNB Retail handling leasing.
 

Las Vegas -- Sales of consumer electronics fell 5.9% this past holiday season, as smartphones cannibalize sales of standalone gadgets like cameras, camcorders and GPS navigation devices, according to the NPD Group.

Electronics sales, including TVs and PCs, totaled $9.5 billion in the five weeks ending Dec. 24, NPD reported. Camcorder sales fell 43% and sales of digital picture frames were down 38%. GPS units decreased 33%. Television sales were down 4%, bolstered by sales of TVs bigger than 50 inches.

Minneapolis -- Christopher & Banks Corp. announced that its board of directors approved a change in the company’s fiscal year-end to the Saturday nearest to the end of January, rather than the Saturday nearest to the end of February.

The retailer said the change, which is effective for the company’s current fiscal year, will provide certain benefits, including aligning its reporting periods to be more consistent with that of other specialty retail companies.
 

CHICAGO — Claire's Stores has announced that Eugene Kahn , the company's CEO, has resigned. The company said its board of directors will conduct a search for a new CEO and will consider both internal and external candidates for this position. In the meantime, James Conroy , president of Claire's Stores, and Jay Friedman , president of Claire's North American Division, will form an interim office of the CEO, reporting to the board of directors. All of these management changes are effective immediately.

Richmond, Va. -- Atlanta-based Jones Lang LaSalle said Thursday that it has been selected as the property and leasing manager for Regency Square Mall, an 820,000-sq.-ft. regional shopping center located in Richmond, Va.

Jones Lang LaSalle will work with the current Taubman management team for a one-month transition period.