Apparel

Seattle -- Online jewelry retailer Blue Nile has appointed Mindy Meads to its board of directors. Meads previously served as co-CEO of Aeropostale and president and CEO of Victoria’s Secret, among other executive posts in a 35-year apparel retail career. She also serves on the board of Wet Seal.

Kohl's Corp. reported a 5% drop in first-quarter profit on weak sales due to unseasonably cold weather in large parts of the United States.

Kohl's net income fell to $147 million in the quarter ended May 4, down from $154 million a year earlier.

Sales fell 1% to $4.2 billion. Comparable-store sales fell 1.9%.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl's Corp. reported a 5% drop in first-quarter profit on weak sales fell due to unseasonably cold weather in large parts of the United States.

Kohl's net income fell to $147 million in the quarter ended May 4, down from $154 million a year earlier.

Sales fell 1% to $4.2 billion. Comparable-store sales fell 1.9%.

Simpsonville, Ky. -- Following on the heels of successful outlet projects in Atlanta and Oklahoma City, CBL & Associates Properties and Horizon Group Properties announced another joint venture – to co-develop The Outlet Shoppes at Louisville, in Simpsonville, Ky.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Body Central Corp., a multichannel, specialty retailer that offers on-trend apparel and accessories at value prices, has appointed Donna R. Ecton as non-executive chairman of the board. Ecton has been a director of Body Central Corp. since May 2011.

San Diego -- Despite being the most tech-savvy generation in history, Generation Y, the 80-million strong cohort of Americans between the ages of 18 and 35, has not forsaken shopping in stores for online purchasing – as long as retailers keep their offerings "fresh" and interesting, according to a new report from the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

New York -- Contingent Network Services has announced the successful completion of a strategic IT project to deploy new in-store technology to stores operated by The Finish Line. The retailer has reinvented its in-store shopping experience at all locations with a total store overhaul and technology refresh that included implementation of innovative mobile POS and interactive kiosk technologies. Contingent provided Finish Line with incremental project and technology experts to manage the in-store deployment for 320 of the 664 sites completed within the overall project.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — American Giant, a California-based apparel brand for men which operates through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model, has launched a womenswear line. 

The first women's offerings will consist of both heavyweight and mid-weight sweatshirts and a jersey knit line, all made in America and sold exclusively online. Women will be able to pick from seven styles, all made from 100% pre-washed cotton and shrunk to fit and priced from $19.50 to $89.