Apparel

Men's Wearhouse is turning to a veteran of Google and Bebe Stores to be its new chief digital officer in charge of all digital and omnichannel initiatives.

Ben Baum will become EVP and CDO and report to Doug Ewert, CEO. Baum will lead all digital and omni-channel commerce and initiatives across digital, mobile and emerging platforms within the Men's Wearhouse organization including all individual brands and businesses via integrated omnichannel solutions.

San Francisco - Westfield San Francisco Centre has enlisted RetailNext Inc., a provider of retail analytics for brick-and-mortar stores, to provide in-store retail analytics technologies and services for Bespoke, its new retail-technology hub. Bespoke is made up of tech demonstration, coworking and event spaces.

True Religion Apparel's first-ever global flagship is also the brand’s largest and most digitally-savvy space to date, starting with storefront windows that display a continuous stream of video content—and also showcase style statements from shoppers themselves. The 3,000-sq.-ft. store is located in downtown Manhattan.

The interior pays homage to the vibrancy and edginess of New York City, starting with a dynamic entrance mural designed and painted by local street artist RAE.

Canton, Mass. – Destination XL Group Inc. shrunk its net loss to $574,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to $3.5 million the same quarter a year earlier. A shift to operating income from operating loss helped reduce total net loss.

During the current fiscal year, Destination XL intends to open approximately 32 DXL retail and eight DXL outlet stores. It also plans to close approximately 42 Casual Male XL and three Rochester Clothing stores.

Fairfax, Va. – Geeknet Inc. has determined that an acquisition offer from an unnamed strategic bidder of $20 per share, or about $134.6 million, is superior to a previous offer from Hot Topic of $17.50 per share, or about $117.3 million.

Charlotte, N.C. – Investments in higher margins and topline growth helped boost net income at Belk Inc. 13% to $21.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 from $19.3 million in the same period a year earlier. Net sales were $985 million, up 3% from $955.1 million.

Same-store sales rose 3.3%. The strongest merchandise categories were men’s and women’s apparel, especially activewear, across all areas. The company’s online sales increased 37%, positively affecting same-store sales by 2.1%.

Nashville, Tenn. – Genesco Inc. reported profit beneath Wall Street expectations in the first quarter of fiscal 2016, with planned inventory reductions and e-commerce-related expenses hindering growth. The retailer reported net earnings of $9.88 million, a 29% decrease from $13.97 million the same period the previous year.

Net sales rose 5% to $661 million from $629 million. Same-store sales grew 4%. Genesco said that West Coast port-related delivery delays impeded same-store sales growth.

Richmond, Va. - InvenTrust Properties Corp. has acquired Westpark Shopping Center, a 176,935-sq.-ft., 95% leased shopping center located in Glen Allen, Virginia, for $33.75 million.  
 

Destination XL Group's reinvention seems to be appeaing to more customers as the retailer reported a boost in same store sales in the first quarter.