Apparel

Indianapolis -- MID Retail said Tuesday that Rue21 has selected its Advanced Allocation Software for Allocation and Store forecasting.

According to MID, its Advanced Allocation Software was designed to help multi-store, multi-SKU retailers increase accuracy, efficiency and profitability.

New York -- Despite continued weakness in the overall economy, middle and upper-class consumers appear to remain little affected by the downturn, as evidenced by Tiffany & Co.'s U.S. same-store sales growth of 9% during its fiscal fourth quarter. Worldwide sales were up 12% for the quarter.

Olympia Sports announced that, effective Sept. 1, Dick Coffey, president, will be retiring.  Coffey has served Olympia Sports for more than 35 years, and for the last 12 years he has served as president. He will continue to be involved after his retirement as a member of the company’s board of directors and will consult on new store growth.

The company has named Ed Manganello, general merchandise manager, as our new president effective Sept. 1.  Manganello started his career with Olympia in 1992.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal announced Monday that it has hired Ken Seipel as president and COO, effective March 28.

Seipel will report to CEO Susan P. McGalla.

Seipel was previously president and chief merchandise/marketing officer of Pamida Discount Stores LLC, a regional general merchandise discount retailer. Prior to that, he was executive VP of stores, operations and store design for the Old Navy division of Gap.

Boston -- Gordon Bros. Group said Tuesday it has named Leonard R. Polivy as managing director in the Retail Division.

Polivy began his jewelry career with Gordon Bros. in the mid-1980s and then went on to become president of a wholesale diamond company. He also held other management positions and worked on valuing and restructuring clients within the jewelry sector before returning to Gordon Bros. in 2009.

Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties said that eleven of its malls in the Midwestern U.S. handed out 6,000 gifts during National Random Acts of Kindness week, Feb. 14-20.

The program is designed to give back to the community and support local nonprofit groups.

New York City -- Finnish retailer Marimekko will open a flagship in Manhattan this fall. The company is also expanding its collaboration with Crate & Barrel.

The 4,000-sq.-ft. store will feature Marimekko’s wide-ranging product mix, which includes furnishings fabrics, home goods, apparel and accessories. It will be designed by the Japanese architectural firm IMA.

New York City -- Tiffany & Co. said fourth-quarter earnings rose 29% as net sales jumped 12% to $1.1 billion. The company earned $181.2 million in the quarter compared with $140.4 million in the year-ago period. The latest quarter includes from the pending relocation of Tiffany's New York headquarters staff.

For the full year, worldwide net sales increased 14% to $3.1 billion. Net earnings from continuing operations rose 39% to $368.4 million.