Apparel

One of the most important trends to track these days is that of online retailers making the jump to brick-and-mortar. The different strategies and tactics they have taken, and the new and different ways that retailers are adapting to the realities of an omnichannel world, can not only reveal some fascinating truths about retail today — but also provide some insights into where the retail industry might be heading in the future.

For all their differences, the shopping center owners and brokers from around the world who will gather at the end of May in Las Vegas for retail real estate’s annual RECon confab are alike in they will all be on the lookout for new retail concepts to entice shoppers.

The good news is that are plenty of brands ready to spread their wings. Some have been around for a couple of years, but are now flush with new financing. But many are formerly pure players that are now turning their attention to physical stores.

Plans are being finalized for a new 100,000-sq.-ft. retail re-development in Enid, Oklahoma, across from the city’s Oakwood Mall, according to developer GBT Realty Corp.

While generally steady post-recessionary economic performance has led to an extended period of retail growth, retailers and retail real estate professionals around the country have begun openly wondering about just how high rental rates can continue to climb. In the last few years, occupancy costs are up significantly virtually across the board; most dramatically in dense urban locations in larger markets.

Sears Holdings will shutter its apparel design office in New York City.

The struggling retailer will shutter the 154-employee office in July, reported the New York Post, which cited a Department of Labor filing.

Sears will move approximately 40 positions to an existing site in San Francisco, with the remainder positions to be cut, according to the report.

Coach on Tuesday reported its first growth in quarterly profit in three years. The retailer also announced a series of management changes and corporate job reductions resulting in a pre-tax charge of about $65 million to $80 million in the fourth quarter.

Coach said it would cut an unspecified number of corporate jobs, and announced that president and COO Gebhard Rainer and global marketing president David Duplantis would leave the company.

The nation’s largest western and work wear retailer is nothing if not supportive of its employees.

Boot Barn Holdings is donating $11,000 to charity in celebration of employee Mary Sarah advancing to be one of the eleven finalists on NBC's primetime singing competition, “The Voice.”

Sarah moved to Nashville and took a job at Boot Barn several years ago to support her life-goal of becoming a country music artist.

HomeGoods, Stein Mart and Sierra Trading Post will fill a 76,000-sq.-ft. void created by the closing of a Kmart store at the Maple Village shopping center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.