Apparel

Japanese specialty apparel retailer Uniqlo is expanding its U.S. presence into the Southeast, and is also expanding its relationship with Disney.    The company will open a two-level, 25,000-sq.-ft. store on July 15 in Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. It will be Uniqlo’s first location in the Southeast.   

Retail store expansion could get a boost from lower rents in the next 12 months as real estate investment trusts react to volatility in global financial markets, according to Pacific Investment Management Co.   In a report titled, “U.S. Real Estate: A Storm Is Brewing,” PIMCO portfolio managers John Murray and Anthony Clarke forecasted a drop of as much as 5% in commercial real estate prices due to a confluence of factors including public market volatility, tightened regulations, and uncertain foreign capital flows.

Men’s apparel retailer Destination XL Group Inc. (DXL) is trying to make sure customers are satisfied at the very beginning of the fulfillment process.   DXL is utilizing the EZ-Ship Scan/Pack solution from supply chain management technology provider NGC Software. DXL will use EZ-Ship to reduce chargebacks and packing errors by validating the contents of each carton and shipment sent from its factories.  

Determining if an online clothing purchase will fit properly is a challenge for many women.    Launched in May 2016, e-commerce site Fovo curates apparel selections that are tailored to female shoppers’ specific body shapes.   “The way forward is personalization,” said Fovo cofounder Kiana Anvaripour in a Chain Store Age interview. We want to help women optimize the experience of shopping online for apparel so the ‘endless scroll’ doesn’t exist.”

Sports apparel retailer The Finish Line topped Street estimates for its first quarter, turning in a solid performance in a challenging retail environment.    The company reported net income of $9.63 million for the period ended May 28, down 29.9% from $13.73 million in the year-ago quarter, amid higher costs.     Net sales rose 2.28% to $453.52 million, higher than expected,  from $443.39 million in the same quarter last year. Same-store sales increased 1.5%.  

Nordstrom  plans to shutter its location at Horton Plaza, in downtown San Diego.  The store, which opened in 1985, will remain open through August 26, 2016.   "These are always tough decisions to make, but in taking a look at the store's performance and our business needs into the future, we believe this is the best direction to take," said Jamie Nordstrom, president of stores for Nordstrom. "We look forward to serving our loyal Horton Plaza customers at our other San Diego stores.”  

Ross Stores will open eight new dd’s Discounts stores in the coming week, bringing the coverage of its moderately priced apparel chain to near 190 units. Ribbons will be cut at stores in Delano, Fairfield, and Stockton, California; Margate and Palm Springs, Florida; Marrero, Louisiana; and Pasadena, Texas.  

Primark, one of Europe’s largest apparel retailers, will anchor a complete redevelopment of Macerich’s Kings Plaza in Brooklyn. It will be joined by Spain-based Zara, which the New York Times has called the world’s largest fashion retailer. The Sears store at Kings Plaza will close for renovation in September.