Apparel

Hampstead, Md. -- JoS. A. Bank Clothiers said Wednesday that its first-quarter net income increased 12.7% to $17.8 million, compared with $15.8 million in the prior year.

Total sales increased 8.5% to $193.3 million, from $178.1 million. Same-store sales edged up 0.1%.
 

Watsonville, Calif. -- West Marine will open the biggest store in the company's history, a 50,000-sq.-ft flagship in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Due to open by yearend, the store will be twice as big as the company's current largest location and will be focused on serving both local and seasonal boating customers.

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.  — Leading footwear retailer Skechers USA has announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with Street Flyers LLC to produce sporting goods and safety gear collections for children and young adults. Both collections are planned to launch in toy and mass market retailers throughout the United States and Canada in spring 2012.

New York City -- Capital spending for the retail industry is expected to increase 16% in 2011 to $42.5 billion, with all sub-segments projecting double-digit percentage increases (except for mass merchants, whose growth is projected to rise 9%), according to a survey by Equity Research.

White Plains, N.Y. -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced Tuesday that Dick’s Sporting Goods has leased 58,750 sq. ft. at “The Source” in White Plains, N.Y.

The Dick’s Sporting Goods lease represents the first step of the redevelopment of the former Fortunoff store, directly adjacent to The Westchester Mall. “The Source” is also occupied by Whole Foods Market, The Cheesecake Factory, Morton’s, Destination Maternity and a planned Raymour & Flanigan.

The new store opened in April.

Midwestern department store operator Gordman’s Stores was putting up some big numbers last year, and then in early August it decided to go public. Things are not looking quite as good of late, with first quarter comps weaker than planned and guidance for the remainder of the year lowered.

New York City -- The Tommy Hilfiger Group said Friday that it will begin selling men's clothing in 90 locations of The Bay, a Canadian department store.

Gary Sheinbaum, CEO of Tommy Hilfiger North America, said Canada's "robust economy and increasingly discerning fashion consumers" influenced the decision.

The company described the setup as a "shop-in-shop," encompassing about 500 sq. ft. The shop will open by November.

The company has a similar set-up in the United States with Macy’s.

San Francisco -- Gap will enter the Italian outlet center market, opening a namesale store at the Vicolungo Outlet Center near Milan, on June 2.