Apparel

Chico’s is looking to a veteran of Victoria’s Secret to help the company navigate some troubling times.

The company announced that Cynthia A. Fields has been appointed to its board of directors, effective immediately. Fields was also appointed to the board's merchant committee.

Pink will prevail at Macy’s this month when the retailer launches an omnichannel campaign to raise funds for the fight against breast cancer.

The retailer has joined forces with the Pink Pony Fund, the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation’s initiative in the fight against cancer, to offer a special collection of merchandise that transforms Polo Ralph Lauren shops into Pink Pony destinations in 48 Macy’s locations across the country and at macys.com/pink.

Lauren Hobart has been elevated to the role of executive vice president at Dick’s Sporting Goods and given responsibility for a potential new growth vehicle.

Hobart was named executive vice president, chief marketing officer and general manager of Dick’s new women’s specialty fitness stores branded as Chelsea Collective. Only two store are in operation currently, in McLean, Va. and Pittsburgh, but greater growth could be in store now the Dick’s has given a senior executive oversight of the concept.

Social media has evolved into a powerful marketing tool for retailers. But so far, social commerce is not yet a major transactional channel.

Twitter is the latest social platform to attempt to take advantage of social media’s immediacy to offer direct purchase functionality aimed at impulse shoppers.

A change at the top has given new energy to Boston-based specialty retailer City Sports. In July, the company tapped veteran retail executive Marty Hanaka as CEO. He replaced Edward Albertian, who resigned in June.

It’s official: Downtown Disney (at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida) is now Disney Springs. The change is part of a comprehensive makeover of the open-air center that includes a lineup of new retailers and restaurants.

Studies indicate that online shoppers abandon websites that do not offer free returns shipping. This only makes sense, as the allure of e-commerce is convenience, a broad selection of merchandise, and competitive prices. Free shipping — from delivery through return — keeps the total purchase price similar to in-store shopping.

But there are two sides to free returns.

1. Free Returns Increase Sales

eBay is turning to the former chief executive of a major specialty retailer to help provide its board of directors some guidance.

Paul Pressler, who served as president and CEO of Gap Inc. from 2002-2007, has been named to eBay’s board and will serve on the Audit Committee as well as the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

As the holidays approach, retailers are hoping the convenience and immediacy of e-commerce will prompt high volumes of online gift purchases.

But according to a new survey of more than 1,000 U.S. consumers from e-gift software provider Loop Commerce, there are some common problems that make consumers hesitate to buy gifts online.

In its 11th year, the Top Redevelopers survey remains relevant as more shopping center companies redevelop than build anew – although the redevelop vs. develop scales are more in balance now than they were five years ago.