Apparel

Get ready: Kayne West’s next venture is retail stores
Adidas is doubling down on its relationship with Kanye West, the outspoken entertainer who doubles as a fashion designer. The German sportswear giant and West are expanding their very successful Yeezy brand via a new partnership called adidas + Kanye West. The Yeezy-branded collection will consist of footwear, apparel and accessories for all genders that will work across street and sport.
Macy’s May See Changes
Macy’s may be flailing, but the department store icon can’t be accused of taking its struggles lying down. As sales were falling 7.4% in the first quarter of 2016 (numbers that represented the fifth straight quarter of declining sales, and capped off a year in which Macy’s stock prices were nearly halved at 47%), Macy’s continues moving forward on plans to roll out its new off-price Backstage concept – both as a series of new stand-alone stores and as in-store locations integrated inside a number of existing Macy’s stores.

Westfield World Trade Center recruits veterans

A job fair held in New York this week attracted veterans and their family members looking to fill retail positions at the Westfield World Trade Center mall set to open in August. Some 5,000 attended to apply for some 10,000 positions expected to open there and at Fulton Center in the two months.
Wisconsin planning board overturns mall policy in Jo-Ann’s favor

Racine, Wisconsin’s planning commission has overturned the local Regency Mall’s policy to suit the signage requirements of new retailers there, according to a report in The Journal Times. When J.C. Penney closed its doors at the CBL & Associates-owned mall, the vacant space was favorably distributed among three new tenants. All three, however, had issues with the space allotment for their signs.
Survey: Back-to-school means back to spending

Parents are increasing their back-to-school budgets, although overall spending is stagnant compared to recent years. According to a new survey of 1,830 U.S. parents of elementary through college students by Mintel, 52% of respondents plan to spend more on back-to-school (BTS) shopping than in 2015. Only 4% plan to spend less, with 44% planning to spend the same. However, overall planned BTS spending dropped to $68 billion in 2015 after ranging from $73 - $76 billion annually from 2010-2014.
Delray Beach shopping center sells for $33 million

New Century Commons, a shopping center in Delray Beach, Florida, has been purchased by Menin Development for $33 million, according to a report in the Sun Sentinel.

Seller of the 84,551-sq.-ft. center was Linton 510 LLC, which faced uncertainty over the future of one of its anchors, Sports Authority, which filed for bankruptcy in March. Questions about cash flow going forward complicated the closing of the sale, though a Menin spokesman told the South Florida newspaper that several retailers have inquired about the Sports Authority space.
Another department store retailer is getting a new CEO

It’s the end of an era for Belk Inc. The retailer announced that Tim Belk will retire as CEO of the company in July 2016. Lisa Harper, CEO of Hot Topic, will succeed Belk as CEO, effective July 5. The news comes less than a year after Belk, which operates 293 stores in 16 Southern states, was acquired in a $3 billion deal by Sycamore Partners. The private equity firm also owns Hot Topic.
Stiles completes Coral Ridge Center in Fort Lauderdale

The Enclave Shops at Coral Ridge outside of Fort Lauderdale is complete and its Fresh Market anchor has opened its doors. Its developer, Stiles, partnered with local businessman Phil Smith to build the surrounding residential community, The Enclave at Coral Ridge Country Club. The Fresh Market has been a draw to other prospective retail tenants at the 27,300-sq.-ft. center, according to Stiles VP of realty Mike Carpenter.
Nordstrom to integrate Trunk Club ops, cut jobs

Nordstrom Inc. plans to more closely align operations of its omnichannel Trunk Club business with the rest of the enterprise. The luxury retailer plans to close the dedicated Trunk Club fulfillment center located on Goose Island in Chicago. With the closure, Trunk Club will integrate its operations into the Nordstrom network of fulfillment and distribution centers located across the U.S. The Goose Island facility will transition to its close by August 2017.
Ex-Home Depot exec named head merchant at Sobey's

Sobeys Inc. has named a former Home Depot executive as the Canadian retailer's chief merchandising officer. Lyne Castonguay will oversee all aspects of Sobeys go-to-market strategy, with responsibility for category management, marketing, data insights, research, procurement, private label and merchandising as well as the company's digital strategy.
Barnes & Noble Education loss grows in Q4; plans new stores

Restructuring costs helped increase fourth quarter net loss at Barnes & Noble Education Inc. to $2.8 million from $300,000 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. Not all the fourth quarter fiscal news was negative, however. Total sales rose 8% to $294.8 million from $274 million, aided by a 4.5% increase in same-store sales.
Three more retailers commit to Green Acres Commons

Macerich’s new outdoor shopping complement to Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, N.Y., just got three steps closer to a full house for its planned grand opening this fall. 24-Hour Fitness, Sonic Drive-In, and Ulta Beauty have all committed to space at Green Acres Commons, a 335,000-sq.-ft. retail center.