Apparel

Off-price retailer Century 21 will make its West Coast debut in a most unusual way — taking over a high-tech, high-touch “smart” store for six weeks.  

American Eagle Outfitters announced that Kyle Andrew has been appointed executive VP, chief marketing officer, effective June 6.   Andrew served as senior VP, brand director for Kate Spade Saturday from 2013 through 2015. She joined the company in 2008 as head of global brand marketing and played an integral role in the re-positioning of the Kate Spade brand from a $100 million handbag company to a billion dollar global lifestyle brand.  

New-build shopping center construction was plodding last year — discounting the outlet category, which continues to grow at record speed. And, yet, sometimes one has to look at the quality of what is coming out of the ground — or expanding — and not just the quantity.

Moving forward with its promise to streamline its business model, Gap Inc. said it plans to close its fleet of 53 Old Navy stores in Japan and also shutter some Banana Republic stores, primarily outside of North America.

The retailer announced the moves on Thursday in its first quarter results, which marked the chain's fifth straight quarter of lower revenue and profit. The company also said it would not reaffirm its earnings guidance for the fiscal year.

Nordstrom Inc. is known for providing the best customer experience, and is now applying that ethos to its customer loyalty program.

The department store retailer is expanding its Nordstrom Rewards loyalty program to allow members to earn benefits regardless of how they choose to pay for purchases across its store, outlet store or digital channels.

Personalization, retail bots and social media will play key roles in a new store concept from Kipling North America.

The maker of lightweight luggage and other accessories will unveil its first interactive store format on May 20, at Disney Springs, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida.

The new store is designed to offer customers a unique and personalized shopping experience, with array of inventive “activations” offered throughout the space. It will be in the Town Center part of Disney Springs.

In a program called LA25, Target Corp. is testing an array of new initiatives, ranging from sleeker apparel fixtures to dedicated service stations for online order pick-ups, at 25 locations in California. The retailer plans to spend $1 billion this year to spruce up its in-store shopping experience, with a portion of that being devoted to remodels, TheStreet reported.

When it comes to supply chain leadership and best practices, a fast food chain beat out the world’s leading e-commerce and discount retailers.

According to the new Gartner Inc. Supply Chain Top 25 ranking, McDonald’s led all retail chains with the number two ranking. Consumer products giant Unilever ranked first among all companies.

With a young, trend-conscious customer base, Forever 21 needs to cater to shopper demand, in and out of the store.

The Los Angeles-based, 760-store-plus specialty apparel retailer is extending this seamless, customer-centric approach to how it offers customers credit. Forever 21 is partnering with marketing and loyalty solutions provider Alliance Data Systems Corp. to provide private label and co-branded credit card services that are integrated with its loyalty program.

Not all teen apparel retailers are struggling. Just ask American Eagle Outfitters.

The company reported a better-than-expected rise in quarterly sales and profit as demand for its products rose even amid a sluggish retail environment.

American Eagle’s net income surged 39.3% to $40.5 million, or 22 cents per share, in the quarter ended April 30.

Net revenue increased 7% to $749.4 million. Same-store sales increased 6%, on top of a 7% increase in the year-ago period.