Apparel

L Brands turned in a disappointing sales performance in April, a rarity for a chain that has turned in consistently strong monthly results.

The parent company of Victoria’s Secret reported a 1% increase in same-store sales, below Wall Street expectations of a 4.8% gain.

Sales for the month increased to $737.5 million, up from $724.6 million in the same month last year.

The company’s Bath & Body Works division saw a 5% increase in same-store sales while Victoria's Secret posted a 1% decrease.

Teen apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch is losing a key member of its executive team.

Jonathan Ramsden, COO, is resigning from Abercrombie effective June 15, 2006. Ramsden, who joined the company in 2008 as executive VP and CFO, was promoted to COO in 2014.

Under Armour is losing two key members of its executive team.

Chief merchandising officer Henry Stafford and chief digital officer Robin Thurston are both stepping down from their positions in July. No reason was given for their departures.

Stafford joined Under Armour in 2010 as the apparel team lead. He will be succeeded on an interim basis by Kip Fulks, who most recently served as Under Armour’s chief marketing officer.

David’s Bridal is expanding south of the border.

The bridal and special occasion retailer is partnering with Diltex, a leading manufacturer and retailer of intimate apparel in Mexico, to open its first franchise location, in Mexico City.

The store is expected to open by the end of 2016 with additional franchise locations planned to open over the next five years across the country.

Canadian footwear and accessory retailer The Aldo Group is streamlining e-commerce operations to better satisfy customers and ease international expansion.

Aldo’s previous e-commerce site had issues including inventory inaccuracy, a lack of flexibility and poor performance during high traffic periods. The retailer has overhauled its e-commerce architecture using the SAP Hybris Commerce solution as a new platform.

In a move rumored for weeks, Aéropostale on Wednesday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The struggling teen apparel retailer said it would close 113 stores in the United States and all 41 of its stores in Canada. Store closing sales in the United States will begin this weekend (May 7-8), and in Canada during the week of May 9.

The fast-casual restaurant chain McAlister’s Deli has opened its first store in the New York City area, a market where residents know a thing or two about delis.

With rental rates rising, expansion minded retailers have a unique opportunity to satisfy their growth aspirations by capitalizing on below market rates available at nearly 200 former Hancock Fabric locations.

While teen apparel retailers are feeling the heat from online and fast-fashion competitors, Five Below continues to move across the country.

The extreme-value brand for and pre-teens and teens will open its first store in Wisconsin, in Racine, on May 6, 2016.The Racine store is one of approximately 85 new Five Below locations opening in 2016, on top of 71 new stores that opened in 2015.

Online sales and returns are taking toll on retailers’ bottom lines.

Operating earnings as a percent of sales has declined by up to 25% due to a shift from in-store to online sales, combined with e-commerce and omnichannel investments and the high cost of fulfilling e-commerce transactions, according to a study by strategic retail advisory firm HRC Advisory.