Apparel

Retail tenant specialist Jack Gray has joined Mid-America Real Estate’s Minnesota operation. He will be representing clients that include Starbucks, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Mills Fleet Farm.   Gray arrives at Mid-America from an internship on Cushman & Wakefield Northmarq’s industrial brokerage team.   Gray is a recent graduate of University of St. Thomas, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in marketing.  

Signet Jewelers, which is battling a gender-discrimination class-action case, has named its first-ever female CEO.   Signet announced that CEO Mark Light has retired due to "health reaons."  He will be succeeded by beauty and health veteran Virginia "Gina" C. Drosos, who has served as an independent director of the company’s  board since 2012, effective August 1, 2017.  

Online luxury consignment retailer The RealReal is taking its resale model into the physical space.    The retailer plans to open its first-ever permanent retail location in November,  in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood, reported Women's Wear daily. The two-level, 8,000-sq.-ft. store will showcase items from all of The RealReal's categories and also feature contemporary artwork and a wall of Hermès bags, according to the report. It will host classes and discussions.  

The parent company of Famous Footwear is expanding its men's and international operations.    Caleres has tapped Malcolm Robinson as president of the company’s new men’s and international division. He will oversee the strategic growth initiatives for the Caleres men’s brands, as well as expand an international footprint across the company’s portfolio.  

The beginning of summer didn't give a boost to consumer spending as retail sales fell for the second straight month.   Retail sales unexpectedly slipped 0.1% in June after being unchanged in May. Sales were up 3.2% unadjusted from June 2016, according to the National Retail Federation, and 3.9% on a three-month moving average year-over-year. (The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.)   

Adidas has upped its game with a store that celebrates the heritage and vibe of its Venice Beach, California, locale.     The company has opened a 5,900-sq.-ft. store on Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice Beach, dedicated to its Originals brand. The store combines such classic lines as Stan Smith with new ones such as NMD. The space will also house immersive events and installations on a regular basis in order to encourage localized experiences, create community among streetwear lovers and connect with local culture enthusiasts.

Tiffany & Co. has found its next chief executive.   The jeweler has named Alessandro Bogliolo as CEO, effective October 2, 2017. Tiffany has been looking for a CEO since February, when Frederic Cumenal abruptly left the company in a shakeup amid disappointing financial results.    Bogliolo, 52, has been CEO of Diesel SpA, a global apparel and accessories company, since 2013. At Diesel, he led the company’s efforts to revitalize its brand and enhance the customer experience. 

As Cole Haan expands its breadth, the retail experience must remain consistent — regardless of the touchpoint shoppers use.    In partnership with Aptos, the specialty retailer now has a platform that delivers a seamless customer experience throughout the entire shopping journey. Regardless of whether shoppers visit one of the company’s 259 stores across 30 countries, or shop online, now they will get a unified experience.