Apparel

Lands' End adds Saks, J.Crew vets to exec team
Lands' End is adding two highly regarded retail veterans to an executive team led by newly appointed CEO Federica Marchionni.

The company announced that Joseph Boitano is bringing his more than 30 years of retail and wholesale experience to a new role at Lands' End as executive vice president, chief merchandising and design officer and will lead all aspects of merchandising and design.
Macy’s adds two more store locations for launch of Macy’s Backstage
Cincinnati -- Macy’s on Monday announced two more pilot store locations in metro New York City for its new off-price format, Macy’s Backstage. The additional stores brings to six the total number of Macy’s Backstage for launch. All are expected to open in fall 2015 and average about 30,000 sq. ft.

The added locations are at Fordham Place in The Bronx, and Essex Green Shopping Center, West Orange, New Jersey, where an existing Macy’s store will be converted to Macy’s Backstage.

Macy’s Backstage signs lease at Fordham Place in the Bronx

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Retail Properties of America Inc. announced that Macy’s new off-price format, Macy’s Backstage, has signed a 35,200-sq.-ft. lease at Fordham Place in the Bronx, New York, as RPAI continues to execute on its remerchandising strategy of upgrading its tenancy and enhancing the dominance of its shopping centers.
X Team partner Strategic Retail Advisors completes lease for Charming Charlie flagship

Framingham, Mass. -- X Team International, an international alliance of retail real estate advisors with expertise in more than 45 major markets throughout the U.S. and Canada, announced that partner, Strategic Retail Advisors (SRA), a retail real estate consulting and brokerage firm focused on tenant representation throughout the Northeast, has successfully negotiated a lease on behalf of accessories retailer Charming Charlie.
Charming Charlie, New York City

Jewelry and accessories retailer Charming Charlie has opened its largest store yet, a three-level, 16,000-sq.-ft. flagship on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. Designed in partnership with Callison Architects, Seattle, the store features a two-story, 30-foot tall glass façade and 20-ft. tall double doors in the brand's signature vibrant pink lacquer.
Online jewelry retailer Blue Nile opens its first brick-and-mortar store

New York -- Another online merchant has ventured into the physical space. Diamond and fine jewelry retailer Blue Nile has opened its first freestanding store, at Roosevelt Field Mall, Garden City, New York.
NRF: Father’s Day spending to approach $13 billion

Washington, D.C. -- Father’s Day may not be the most lucrative consumer holiday of the year for retailers. However, according to the new National Retail Federation (NRF) 2015 Father’s Day Spending Survey, spending on Father’s Day is expected to reach $12.7 billion. The survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, indicates the average person will spend $115.57 on gifts, nearly even with $113.80 in 2014.
Macy’s adds Backstage locations

The first of Macy’s new off price Backstage stores aren’t due to open until this fall, but already the retailer is adding more locations for an off price format heralded as a key growth initiative.

The nation’s largest department store retailer created a stir earlier this year when it disclosed plans to open its first four Backstage stores in the greater New York area. The two additional locations are also in close proximity to New York. The stores are about 30,000-sq.-ft. and are staffed by 30 to 45 employees.
NRF: Father’s Day spending to approach $13B

A new NRF survey reports that Father's Day spending this year is expected to reach $12.7 billion.
How Target can beat Amazon

New York -- Target Corp. will beat Amazon.com by following three core philosophies, the retailer’s top digital executive (and former Amazon.com exec) Jason Goldberger said during a keynote address at the annual Internet Retailer Conference and Exposition, in Chicago.
Chinese Laundry’s omnichannel integration

New York -- Following an e-commerce upgrade, women’s shoe retailer Chinese Laundry is now going to change its e-commerce site to responsive design in the coming months an effort to increase its mobile conversion rate, Scott Cohn, VP president of e-commerce, said during a session at the annual Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition in Chicago.
Zumiez meets Street with Q1 income, will open 57 stores

Lynnwood, Wash. – Zumiez Inc. met Wall Street expectations for profit in the first quarter of fiscal 2015.

Net income rose 12% to $2.8 million from $2.5 million the same period a year earlier, aided by slowing growth rates of cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses.