Apparel

BENSALEM, Pa.  -- Charming Shoppes has announced the appointment of Anthony Romano as the company's president and CEO and a member of the company's board of directors, and the appointment of Brian Woolf as group president Lane Bryant, effective immediately.  

Freeport, Maine -- L.L. Bean announced it will implements free standard shipping to all United States and Canadian addresses effective March 25.

“We tested free shipping offers with no minimum purchase for several months and the customer response was overwhelming,” said Chris McCormick, president and CEO, L.L. Bean, Freeport, Maine. “It’s our opportunity to offer free shipping for all U.S. and Canadian customers with no minimum purchase, no end date, no conditions -- guaranteed.”

New York City -- FAO Schwarz is seeking to extend the lease for its flagship store in Manhattan, almost three years after the landlord Boston Properties said the retailer would likely have to leave, Bloomberg reported. The store is located in the General Motors Building, on Fifth Avenue at the corner of 58th Street.

Seattle – Nordstrom said Thursday it has completed its acquisition of online private sale marketplace HauteLook, effective March 23.

Nordstrom said the acquisition will enable it to participate in the fast-growing private sale marketplace and provide a platform to increase innovation and speed in the way it serves customers in all channels.

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp., a provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich, announced that its Canadian coalition loyalty business has signed a national agreement with The Children's Place Retail Stores.

The agreement provides for The Children's Place to participate as a national sponsor in the Canadian Air Miles Reward Program and issue reward miles across Canada. Previously, The Children's Place launched a seven-month Air Miles pilot initiative in Alberta and British Columbia.

SIDNEY, Neb. -- Cabela’s Inc. announced that Beth Pritchard has been appointed to its board of directors.

“I am delighted that Beth has joined our Board,” said Tommy Millner, Cabela’s CEO. “Beth’s impressive retailing expertise, marketing knowledge and leadership experience will be invaluable as we continue to focus on our strategic initiatives and look to profitably expand our retail store count.”

Toronto -- Canadian golf retailer Golf Town said Thursday it has opened its first five stores in the United States, all located in the greater Boston area.

The $25 million U.S. market expansion includes stores in Avon, Bellingham, Reading, Seekonk and Watertown, Mass., all of which opened on March 24 and total about 100,000 sq. ft. A sixth store is slated to open in Northborough, Mass. in the fall.

Hingham, Mass. -- The Talbots reported Thursday a narrower-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter loss, and said it plans to expand its store re-image program to improve traffic. The chain also it expects to close as many as 100 stores over the next two years.

Talbots lost $2.8 million in the quarter ended Jan. 29, compared with a loss of $1.5 million in the year-ago period.

Net sales fell 7.4% to $292.6 million, compared with $315.9 million in the same period last year. Same-store sales dropped 7.3%.