Apparel

REI has opened it largest location on the East Coast, a 51,000-sq.ft. flagship in Washington, D.C.   The store is designed to offer members of the outdoor community a place to meet and plan adventures — and shop for outdoor gear. It includes such features as a 1,052-sq.-ft. cafe, outdoor courtyard with a fire pit and tables, and a community space that offers a robust schedule of free and low-cost classes in-store classes for cycling, paddling, fitness, hiking and camping, climbing, snow sports, photography and wilderness medicine.

Boohoo.com, the England-based, low-priced fashion Web retailer, will be opening its first brick-and-mortar store in Manhattan’s Union Square neighborhood.   An opening date has not been set, but Cushman & Wakefield reported it has secured the retailer a lease for a 2,000-sq.-ft. space at 3 West 13th Street.  

Based on its third quarter earnings, Carter’s predicts that is on its way to its 28th consecutive year of sales growth.   The brand specializing in babies and young children’s apparel and accessories reported a net sales increase of 6.1%, totaling $901.4 million. The company credits this growth on its U.S. Carter’s and OshKosh retail businesses, Carter’s wholesale business, and international segment.  

Knowing frazzled customers are in search of overall value, Walmart is emphasizing customer service this holiday season.   

Boot Barn’s second quarter performance rose slightly, meeting Wall Street estimates. The western-influenced specialty retailer reported $134 million in revenue for the second quarter ending Sept. 24, 2016, a 3.3% increase from $129.7 million in the prior-year period. This jump also exceeded Wall Street’s estimate of $131.61 million. Boot Barn credited the increase to 13 new stores opened over the past 12 months, and a 1.8% increase in same-store sales. Two of those stores opened the chain during the second quarter.

Regardless of when retailers start their sales, Black Friday weekend is shaping up to feature the biggest deals yet.   According to BlackFriday.fm, a website that tracks the best Black Friday deals, news, and ad scans, “the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are going to be bigger than ever this year, “ said Rene Kirschbaum, director of BlackFriday.fm.   Among the retailers to watch include:  

Clarks Americas has moved its head office to a historic location that provides employee- and eco-centric amenities.   After setting up shop in Newton Upper Falls for nearly 18 years, the footwear brand has moved into the historic Polaroid building in Waltham, Mass. The 120,000-sq.-ft., four-story office houses Clarks’s design and marketing operations, and retail and wholesale business support — divisions that are comprised of more than 400 employees.   

Boot Barn’s second quarter performance rose slightly, meeting Wall Street estimates.    The western-influenced specialty retailer reported $134 million in revenue for the second quarter ending Sept. 24, 2016, a 3.3% increase from $129.7 million in the prior-year period. This jump also exceeded Wall Street’s estimate of $131.61 million. Boot Barn credited the increase to 13 new stores opened over the past 12 months, and a 1.8% increase in same-store sales. Two of those stores opened the chain during the second quarter.