Apparel

Sears Holdings Corp. says its trend of deep same-store sales declines is slowing, but the company did report a wider loss in the fourth quarter.

For the fourth quarter ended Jan. 30, Kmart and Sears same-store sales declined 7.2% and 6.9%, respectively, which was an improvement from the trend in the first three quarters of 2015. Sears reported a loss of $580 million, or $5.44 a share, compared with a loss of $159 million, or $1.50 a share, a year earlier. Revenue dropped 9.8% to $7.3 billion.

So much for the argument that the U.S. market is saturated with retail stores and e-commerce is hurting mall traffic. Tanger Factory Outlet Centers brought four new properties online in 2015 and still managed to achieve a portfolio occupancy rate in excess of 95% for the 35th consecutive year.

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties announced it will be partnership with Girls World Expo. Girls World Expo is an organization that produces one-day events that bring young women together with positive female role models and programming meant to empower girls and help them realize their potential. In 2016, the expo will make stops at 10 CBL centers across the country.

The parent company of Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works credited the strength of its brands with helping it to buck the financial doldrums affecting many other retailers in the fourth quarter.

For the period ended Jan. 30, L Brands earned $636 million, or $2.15 a share, up from $564.8 million, or $1.89 a share, a year earlier. Net income increased 13% to $636.0 million, compared to $564.8 million last year. Net sales were $4.395 billion, an increase of 8%. Same-store sales increased 6%.

Most people do not get a paid holiday for “Leap Day,” Feb. 29.

Then again, most people do not work for online footwear and apparel retailer Zappos. Known for doing things a little differently, such as replacing the traditional bureaucratic management structure with decentralized “holacracy,” Zappos is taking a novel approach to Leap Day.

Shirley, N.Y. -- Heidenberg Properties announced that its Southport Shopping Center, located in Shirley, New York, marks its 25th anniversary. The center is 100% leased, anchored by Marshalls, Petland and Kohl's.

The center first opened to the public in 1990 with original anchors Caldor and Waldbaum's. Over the years, the retail mix has evolved and the center has expanded from 207,000 to 299,000 sq. ft. The first major expansion was the addition of a 33,000 square foot Sears Hardware in 1998.

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. -- Mid-America Real Estate announced the addition of Eric Unatin to its brokerage team. In his new position as VP, Unatin will be specializing in landlord and tenant representation throughout the state of Michigan.

Specialty jewelry retailer Pandora found that combining a leading-edge marketing technique with a tried-and-true advertising format paid dividends during the recent holiday season.

From November 2015 – January 2016, Pandora leveraged the mobile network from location-based marketing provider Outfront Mediato drive traffic to four Miami-area stores. Pandora’s omnichannel approach included nine billboards in Miami, as well as a geo-fencing area that consisted of a five-mile radius around nine local out-of-home assets owned by Outfront Media.