Apparel

Purchase, N.Y. -- MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse report, released Thursday, showed that sales in most retail categories continued to gain momentum over an already strong October showing.

Year-over-year total apparel sales in November saw a 9.6% increase, the largest year-over-year growth in 2010 for that sector following the previous record in October. Total apparel has recorded eight out of 11 months of year-over-year gains so far in 2010. In November, all of the sub-sectors posted year-over-year growth.

New York City -- Retailers nearly across the board reported a strong start to the holiday season as their November sales were enhanced by aggressive discounting that started early in the month. Same-store sales rose 6% in November,  above the estimated growth of 3.6% and the year-ago gain of 0.6%, according to 27 retailers tracked by Thomson Reuters. 

Raleigh, N.C. -- Charlotte, N.C.-based Crosland announced that several new tenants will open at The Shoppes at Oberlin Court mixed-use development in Raleigh, N.C.

Gigi's Cupcakes is slated to open a 1,579-sq.-ft. location in December, Edible Arrangements will open a 1,300-sq.-ft. store, also in December, and Oberlin Nails & Spa has opened a 1,198-sq.-ft. salon.

The 2010 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards program recognized retailers from across the nation. Several of the regional retail winners are profiled below.



Matt Rubel learned his craft at an early age. The 52-year-old chief of footwear giant Collective Brands Inc., parent to such brands as Payless ShoeSource, Stride Rite and Sperry Top-Sider, was introduced to retail by his parents.


“I worked in their stores growing up, starting at a very young age,” Rubel said. “I learned that I loved customers and their passion for shopping.”


Rubel has remained true to his early vocation. After graduating college in 1979, he started his career at the legendary Bonwit Teller in New York. From there, he went on to hold leadership positions at some of the nation’s most prominent retail brands. From 1999 to 2005, Rubel served as chairman, president and CEO of Cole Haan, a subsidiary of Nike, where he led a multi-year turnaround,