Apparel

WASHINGTON — National Retail Federation and the University of Phoenix will award ten current retail employees in the U.S. a Dream BIG scholarship.

Each of the ten recipients will receive full tuition at any University of Phoenix campus or online program, to encourage them to pursue career opportunities within the retail industry.

St. Louis -- Famous Footwear, a division of Brown Shoe Co., said Tuesday it has selected Cincinnati-based Empower MediaMarketing as its media agency of record.

Empower will work with Famous Footwear to reach its target customer, as well as to help drive sales online and in-store.
 
“The landscape of paid, owned and earned media continues to change, and Famous Footwear needs to make sure its marketing efforts are effective and efficient,” said Amy Rose, media manager, Famous Footwear.

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascena Retail Group Inc. said Tuesday that CFO Armand Correia is retiring after 21 years with the company that is parent to Dressbarn, Justice and other brands.

Restaurant veteran Dirk Montgomery will succeed Correia, effective Jan. 16. Montgomery most recently served as EVP and chief value chain officer of Bloomin' Brands, which operates the Outback Steakhouse and Bonefish Grill chains.

Rockford, Mich. -- Wolverine Worldwide said Tuesday it will make several organizational moves to drive future growth and global brand building in the wake of its October 2012 acquisition of the Performance & Lifestyle Group.

ROCKFORD — Wolverine Worldwide is making organizational changes to drive its future growth and global brand building.

Capitalizing on the momentum following Wolverine’s October 2012 acquisition of the Performance & Lifestyle Group, it will migrate from four to three brand operating groups. Wolverine expects the new operating group alignment to maximize brand synergies and leverage global growth opportunities. Veteran company leaders Ted Gedra, Mark Neal and Jim Zwiers will lead the new operating groups.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Columbus, Ohio-based Glimcher Realty Trust announced Monday the acquisition of University Park Village, an open-air center located in Fort Worth, Texas.

The 173,220-sq.-ft. center is 97% occupied, generates sales of more than $800/sq. ft., and is tenanted by Apple, Anthropologie, J. Crew, Lululemon Athletica and Madewell, among others.

Glimcher purchased University Park Village for $105 million.

SUFFERN, N.Y. — Ascena Retail Group has named Dirk Montgomery as its new EVP and CFO.

Current EVP and CFO Armand Correia is retiring after 21 years with the specialty retailer, which offers clothing, shoes and accessories for missy and plus-size women and tween girls, under the Justice, Lane Bryant, Maurices, Dressbarn and Catherines brands.

New York -- Canadian yoga apparel retailer lululemon athletica will open a four-month pop-up location on Third Ave., between 66th and 67th Streets in Manhattan, according to Douglas Elliman's Retail Group.
 
The former site of a Uniqlo pop-up shop, the space is on a block-front shared by Thierry Rabotin, Bare Escentuals, Caché, Canyon Beachwear and Arden B.

The retailer’s flagship, located across the street from the pop-up site, is currently being renovated, and the temporary location will ensure a continued presence.