Apparel

What fashion retailers need to know to stay competitive
Many fashion brands today have ambitious goals to become the next industry disruptor but too few focus on the steps to achieve it. Indeed, most retailers recognize they can’t access the information they need to give their customers the experiences they desire today. Nor do they have a clear view into their inventory or order management system to deliver a complete customer journey.
New shopping, dining options to debut at The Mall of San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico -- Taubman announced eight new shopping and dining options will debut at The Mall of San Juan located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, before the end of 2015, seven of which are exclusive to the market. Additional more than 20 stores and restaurants are scheduled to open in 2016.

“We’re bringing a taste of New York, Tuscany and Florence to the island with the addition of three new dining experiences,” said Marnie Marquina, marketing and sponsorship director for The Mall of San Juan.

Carhartt dives deep into online consumer data

Vertical specialty workwear retailer Carhartt Inc. is gaining an unprecedented view into what customers want, when they want it.

Carhartt is leveraging the new IBM Commerce Insights solution that is designed to help online retailers evaluate category and product performance for quick merchandising decisions. Leveraging cognitive capabilities from Watson Analytics,IBM Commerce Insights provides a single view of customer behavioral, market and business performance data directly on Carhartt’s storefront.
Lands' End Q3 results show turnaround has a long way to go

A pullback in promotions, reduced catalog circulation, and unseasonably warm weather helped make for a very disappointing third quarter for Lands' End, whose effort to turnaround its business is having trouble taking hold.

The apparel retailer's sales fell 10% to $334.4 million in the quarter ended Oct. 31, compared to $373.1 million last year.

Net income fell 41% to $10.7 million, compared to $18 million in the third quarter last year.
This retailer is on a roll; raises outlook

Express continues to make all the right moves, reporting better than expected results for its third quarter and raising its 2015 outlook.

The specialty apparel retailer reported a profit of $26.3 million, or $0.31 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $14.6 million, or $0.17 per share.

Revenue rose 9.8% to $546.6 million. Total same-store sales, including e-commerce sales, rose 6%. E-commerce sales climbed 6% to $83.8 million.
Saks Off 5th names four new locations in Canada

Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th continues to expand north of the border.

The off-price retailer and Ivanhoé Cambridge announced an agreement to bring four new Saks Off 5th locations to Canada. The stores, the brand’s first in their respective markets, will open in four Ivanhoé Cambridge shopping centers: Tsawwassen Mills, Tsawwassen, B.C., Outlet Collection Winnipeg; Place Ste-Foy, Quebec City; and Montreal Eaton Centre, Montreal.

Here are the details on the four locations:
Why retail CEOs are worried about climate change

The chief executives of H&M, Gap Inc. and five other apparel companies are urging world leaders to agree to a strong climate change deal because they fear global warming will drive up their costs by having a negative impact on cotton production, Reuters reported. [Reuters]
Sales still sliding at Sears

Sears Holdings Corp. is doing a much better job at cutting costs than at stopping its sales decline.

The retailer’s total revenue in the third quarter, ended Oct. 31, fell 20% to $5.75 billion, from $7.21 billion in the year-ago period, amid store closings and divestitures and a drop in apparel and consumer electronics sales. (Sears had 1,687 stores at the end of the quarter, down from 2,249 a year earlier.)

Total same-store sales were down 8.6%. Kmart same-store sales declined 7.5%. Sears domestic same-store sales fell 9.6%.
A surging American Eagle Outfitters names CEO—finally

Everything old is new again at American Eagle Outfitters, apparently with good reason.

The teen apparel retailer on Wednesday named Jay L. Schottenstein as CEO, effective immediately. Schottenstein, who has served as interim chief since January 2014, will also continue in his role as executive chairman of the board. The news of his appointment came as the retailer reported a strong increase in its third quarter earnings. It was the chain’s third consecutive quarter of increased sales and profits.
Retail CEOs fear rising costs from climate change

The chief executives of H&M, Gap Inc. and five other apparel companies are urging world leaders to agree to a strong climate change deal.

The leaders say they fear global warming will drive up their costs by having a negative impact on cotton production, Reuters reported.

Read more by clicking here.
Sears still can't stop sales skid

Sears Holdings Corp. is doing a much better job at cutting costs than at stopping its sales decline.
Lands' End still trying to turn itself around

The CEO of Lands End says the challenging retail environment and unseasonably warm weather did not help the company's turnaround plan in the third quarter.

The online apparel retailer said that for the period ended Oct. 31, net revenue was $334.4 million, compared to $373.1 million in the third quarter last year. Net income was $10.7 million, compared to $18 million in the third quarter last year.