Apparel

Reston, Va. -- A report released Thursday by comScore found that retail e-commerce sales in the U.S. rose to $186.2 billion in 2012, an increase of 15% and the strongest annual growth rate since before the recession.

Fourth quarter 2012 sales grew 14% year-over-year to $56.8 billion, marking the first-ever $50 billion quarter. It also represents the 13th consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and ninth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.
 

NEW YORK — Department store retailers reported strong sales in January as shoppers responded positively to post-holiday clearance events.  

Overall, the 20 retailers reporting January comps saw an average rise of 5.1%, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, which beat the mall trade group’s 3% forecasted rise.

Business-to-consumer e-commerce sales in 2012 grew 21.1% to top $1 trillion for the first time, according to new global estimates by research firm, eMarketer. 

The firm predicts that 2013 will be even better, with e-commerce sales up 18.3% to $1.298 trillion worldwide, on the strength of the Asia-Pacific market. 

New York -- Cache announced that it has appointed Jay Margolis as chairman and CEO of Cache. Concurrent with the appointment, Thomas Reinckens will step down as chairman and CEO.
 
Margolis most recently served as president and CEO of Limited Brands’ Apparel Group (Express and Limited Stores), where he was responsible for revamping the product line and leading the successful operational turnaround of the businesses. Prior to Limited Brands, he was president, COO & director of Reebok International.
 

Frenchtown Township, Mich. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. said Monday that rue21 will open a new store at Mall of Monroe, located in Frenchtown Township, Mich.

The 5,700-sq.-ft. store is slated to open June 2013 in the mall’s south concourse, and will be the only rue21 location in Monroe County.

Cafaro also said that The Monroe Expo Center opened Feb. 4, converted from a former retail use to a 51,000-sq.-ft. event space.

NEW YORK — A new line of apparel, toy and specialty goods inspired by Nickelodeon's Dora Rocks! is now avaible exclusively at Target stores and on Target.com through April.

"We are excited to bring the Dora Rocks! experience to Target's guests," said Ron Johnson, SVP retail development, Nickelodeon Consumer Products. "Dora Rocks! extends the interactivity kids and parents have come to expect from the show, bringing Dora into their homes with specially designed products."

Items available exclusively at Target include:

New York -- Banana Republic is partnering with Match.com to host in-store meet and greet events for the online dating site’s subscribers in key markets, including San Francisco, New York, and Chicago. The partnership is part of the retailer’s newly announced “Love” global marketing campaign.

To further engage consumers, Banana Republic will ask their Instagram and Twitter followers to share photos of hearts for a chance to be featured in a special Valentine's Day album posted on the brand’s Facebook page.


New York -- Fidelity, the Boston-based investment firm, has bought a 10% stake in C. Wonder, according to Women’s Wear Daily. Founded by Christopher Burch in 2011, the company has since expanded to 10 locations and also operates pop-up stores.

Burch has big plans for C.Wonder, which sells a mix of apparel, accessories and home goods, all under its own label. According to previous reports, he plans to expand it to 50 to 100 stores by the end of 2014, including locations abroad.