Apparel

Boston’s Copley Place is getting a makeover
Boston -- Simon announced plans for a major renovation to Boston’s Copley Place that will begin in September and include interior and exterior enhancements to the retail portion of the property.

In addition to physical upgrades, Simon will continue to add a number of luxury retailers to the property. The majority of the project will be completed by the summer of 2016 with Copley Place remaining fully open throughout the renovation.
Why Macy's is looking forward to the holidays
Macy’s may be counting on key growth initiatives to generate sales during the holidays after reporting another disappointing quarter of financial results.

The company says same store sales declined 2.1% in the second quarter ended Aug. 1. Profit fell to $217 million, or 64 cents a share, from $292 million, or 80 cents a share, a year earlier. Total sales fell 2.6% to $6.1 billion, missing analysts’ estimates for $6.23 billion. Gross margin narrowed to 40.9% from 41.4% a year earlier.

Will Macy's get caught up in a currency war?

At a time when the Chinese currency is being devalued and Macy’s financial results are disappointing investors, the company is forming an exclusive partnership with Alibaba.
These brands are tops with students

Barnes & Noble is tops when it comes to the most powerful “Back-to-School” retail brands, according to a new survey.
Back-to-school not all about students at Lane Bryant

Lane Bryant is taking a non-student approach to back-to-school marketing with its third annual Chalk it up to Style promotion.

Now through Aug. 31, teachers and supporting school staff who shop at Lane Bryant during Chalk it up to Style will enjoy saving 15% off their purchase when shopping in store with a valid school ID or paystub.
Primark sets the date for Boston

New York -- Get ready for Irish fast-fashion.

Value apparel retailer Primark, which recently launched its U.S. website, announced it will open its first U.S. location, in Boston, on Sept. 10. The store measures 77,000 sq. ft. and is situated downtown in the Burnham Building, the site of the city’s iconic Filene's department store.

Primark’s second U.S. outpost will open in King of Prussia mall. The retailer said it plans to open an additional eight stores over the next two years.
In-store still sells

New York -- Female millennial shoppers still like the mall when it comes to shopping for back-to- school goods, and they are also using social media platforms to talk about it.
Soupman taps retail vet as CEO

New York -- The brand that ‘Seinfeld’ made famous has tapped a retail vet as CEO.

Soupman announces that Jamieson Karson has joined the company as CEO and chairman. Karson is the former CEO and chairman of Steven Madden.

During his tenure at Steve Madden, Karson is credited with stabilizing the company and expanding the company's footprint into the global retail and wholesale markets. After Steve Madden, he was a partner at Lightship Partners, a retail consulting firm.
And the top 20 retail back-to-school brands are…

New York -- Barnes & Noble claims the top position in a list of the most powerful “Back-to-School” retail brands, according to Tenet Partners’ Top 20 ranking.

Rounding out the top five: Walmart, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Amazon and Old Navy.
SRS Real Estate names Phoenix senior VP

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners said that it has named Brad Balbo as senior VP in the company's Phoenix office. Balbo specializes in the leasing, valuation and operations of retail shopping centers, with a focus on the restaurant segment.

Balbo joins SRS from a boutique firm in Scottsdale, and will focus primarily on landlord and tenant representation and investment sales for SRS.
Miami Beach’s eight-block landmark shopping district expansion announced

Miami -- Terranova, Lincoln Road shopping district’s largest property owner, released redevelopment plans to activate Lincoln Lane North by developing 723 North Lincoln Lane and 801 Lincoln road buildings. These buildings are part of Miami, Florida’s eight-block retail, dining and entertainment district located blocks from Miami Beaches.
Gap second quarter looking lackuster

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. is still searching for its turnaround.

Gap Inc. issued a second-quarter earnings forecast that was below Wall Street analysts' estimates, with its results impacted by foreign currency fluctuations, West Coast port delays and previously announced store closings in its namesake brand.

Gap reported less-than-expected total sales of $3.9 billion for the second quarter, down 2% from the $3.98 billion the year-ago period.