Apparel

New York -- Kohl’s Department Stores announced plans to launch an exclusive American Idol apparel collection. The newly created line -- Authentic Icon (AI) -- will be available exclusively at Kohl’s and Kohls.com beginning in April.

Morrisville, N.C. -- Columbus, Ohio-based Casto announced that construction will commence on the next phases of the mixed-use lifestyle center, Park West Village, located in Morrisville, N.C.

Another 200,000 sq. ft. of retail space launches construction this month, according to Shannon Dixon, VP development, leasing and asset management for Casto’s Southeast operations.

Joining the next phase of Park West Village is a 55,000-sq.-ft. state-of-the-art 14-screen cinema, operated by Stone Theatres, formerly Consolidated Theatres.

Omaha, Neb. -- Apparel and home décor retailer Gordman Stores reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose 21.2% to $10.2 million, from $8.4 million in the year-ago period.

Sales increased 10% to $185.1 million. Same-store sales rose 2.1%.

New York -- Importers who sell to America’s major retailers are preparing for a significant uptick in consumer spending this spring and summer according to a recent survey conducted by Capital Business Credit, (CBC), a non-bank lender that services the retail sector.

New York City -- J. Crew Group reported Monday that profit for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose to $15.1 million, from $4 million in the same period last year. Revenues surged 13% to $531 million, and same-store sales rose 6%.

For the full year, the retailer reported a profit decline to $51.5 million, from $121.5 million in 2010. Annual revenues rose 8% to $1.9 billion, and same-store sales increased 7%.

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. reported Tuesday that profit for the fourth quarter rose to $19.4 million from $200,000 a year earlier, beating analysts’ estimates for the quarter.

Fourth-quarter revenue rose 10% to $513.7 million, surpassing Wall Street’s estimated $511.2 million in revenue. Same-store sales increased 5.6%.

Washington, D.C. -- Spring apparel and candy are predicted to push Easter sales past the $16 billion mark this year, according to a new survey released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation.

The Easter spending survey, conducted by BIGinsight, found that Americans will shell out an average of $145.28 on everything from apparel and candy to food and decorations this year, up 11% from $131.04 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $16.8 billion.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings announced that David Lukes has joined the company in its real estate business unit as president real estate development. Lukes comes to Sears Holdings from Mall Properties Inc. where he served as president and CEO of the privately owned $3 billion real estate firm.