Apparel

Austin, Texas — Specialty golf retailer Golfsmith International has promoted Eli Getson to executive VP, general merchandising manager. In his new role, Getson will be responsible for all North American merchandising activity across the company's U.S. Golfsmith stores, Canadian Golf Town stores and e-commerce channels for both brands.
 

Los Angeles – Guess Inc. is appointing Sharleen Ernster Lazear as chief design officer. Lazear will oversee all product categories for the Guess and Marciano brands and report to CEO Paul Marciano.

She previously served in senior merchandising and design roles for Victoria’s Secret for 13 years, most recently as executive VP of design.

LOS ANGELES — Guess has appointed former Victoria’s Secret executive Sharleen Ernster Lazear as chief design officer, overseeing all product categories for the Guess brands. She will report to CEO Paul Marciano. 

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Sports Authority has appointed Paul M. Okimoto as the company’s new CMO. 

In his new role, Okimoto will be responsible for leading the strategic development and oversight of the company’s overall marketing plans to drive traffic and sales at stores nationwide and through the e-commerce platform. He is a 20-year marketing and general management executive with demonstrated success in retail, high-technology, mobile telecommunications, advertising and the consumer packaged goods industries.

New York -- Uniqlo is taking a breather … but only a short one. The Japanese fashion retailer opened its seventh U.S. store — and its first in an outdoor lifestyle center location — on April 19, at Westchester’s Ridge Hill in Yonkers, N.Y. The two-level, 24,000-sq-ft. store comes on the heels of Uniqlo opening at Palisades Center in West Nyack, N.Y., in March. What’s next for the powerhouse brand that has made no secret of its intention to expand across the nation, with 200 stores by 2020?

Brisbane, Calif. -- Bebe stores announced that it has promoted Liyuan Woo to the position of CFO.
   
Woo will succeed Walter J. Parks, COO and CFO, who is departing the company effective May 3. The COO position will be eliminated and CEO Steve Birkhold will assume the COO responsibilities.
 

BRISBANE, Calif. — Bebe has appointed current principal accounting officer and VP, corporate controller Liyuan Woo as its new CFO. 

Woo has been with Bebe stores since 2010. She will retain the principal accounting officer title and will be responsible for global finance, accounting, treasury, tax, compliance, planning and strategic corporate development. She will report directly to CEO Steve Birkhold.

Columbus, Ohio -- Footwear/accessories retailer DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse is opening a new store in Columbia, S.C., on May 2. This will mark the entry of the DSW brand into South Carolina.

The company operates 375 stores in 41 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as 347 leased departments for other U.S. retailers.