Apparel

CBL Properties, Horizon Group expand Outlet Shoppes of Atlanta
Chattanooga, Tenn. - CBL & Associates Properties Inc. and Horizon Group Properties Inc. have begun construction on the second phase of The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta. The 33,000-sq.-ft. expansion is scheduled to open before the 2015 holiday season and will bring several popular retailers to the center, including Gap Outlet and Banana Republic.
Simon’s Shisui Premium Outlets expands by 62 stores
Indianapolis - In partnership with Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd., Simon has opened the expansion of the Shisui Premium Outlets located outside Tokyo. Shisui Premium Outlets initially opened in April 2013.

This first phase of the project opened 100% leased with 121 stores featuring a mix of international brands, Japanese brands and restaurants. The second phase, opening April 17, adds 62 new stores, including four restaurants, bringing the total store count to 183. The expansion adds 136,000-sq.-ft. of stores, bringing the total project to 375,000-sq.-ft.

H&M to open new Texas store at Uptown Village at Cedar Hill

Stockholm, Sweden - H&M will open at Uptown Village, Cedar Hill, Texas. Measuring approximately 21,000-sq.-ft., the store is set to open in the fall of 2015 and will add to fast-fashion chain’s 14 current locations in the state of Texas.
NRF, Gap support Trade Promotion Authority

Washington, D.C. – The National Retail Federation (NRF) and Gap Inc. are both asking Congress to approve legislation that would reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), saying such authority is critical to advancing free trade agreements.
BFC Properties breaks ground on Staten Island’s Empire Outlets

New York - BFC Partners has broken ground on Empire Outlets, a 340,000-sq.-ft. retail complex that will create more than 1,800 jobs and bring $285 million in private investment to the New York City borough of Staten Island.
Victoria Gardens, Rancho Cucamonga, California

Victoria Gardens will break ground on a full streetscape renovation encompassing 1.19 acres of the center along its Monet Avenue, according to Melina Ferraez, director of marketing for Victoria Gardens.
Brown Shoe Company to change name, add men’s line

St. Louis -- One of St. Louis’ oldest public companies and one of the nation’s most diverse footwear companies, Brown Shoe Company, is putting a new foot forward and changing its name to “Caleres,” a Latin word that means “passionate, to glow.” The Brown name, however, will live on in a new men’s footwear business called Brown Shoe Bootmakers that the company plans to launch in 2016.
Brown Shoe Company rebrands at Caleres

Corporate identities don’t get more generic than Brown Shoe Company which helps explain the shift to a new name but most customers won’t even notice.
What retailers need to know about the omnichannel revolution

Merchandising and marketing concepts such as shoppable videos, digitized stores and social campaigns on Instagram and Twitter were alien ideas to retailers just a few years ago. Not anymore, according to Tom Ebling, CEO of cloud-based e-commerce solutions provider Demandware, who has a unique perspective on what it means to be a “connected brand.”
Target does creative fitness deal with Lifetime

Target is flexing its marketing muscles with the introduction of a 39-minute workout regimen at Lifetime Fitness clubs to shape up sales of its proprietary C9 Champion activewear brand.
Foot Locker finds digital fit with new shoe app

Foot Locker introduced its first smartphone mobile app and a new series of “Shoemoji” emoticons that enable a new type of communication among smartphone users.
Target opens Lily Pulitzer pop-up; line to drop Sunday in stores

New York - Target Corp. on Thursday opened a pop-up shop at Bryant Park in mid-t0wn Manhattan selling what many experts say will be one of its most popular designer collaborations to date: A 250-piece Lilly Pulitzer for Target collection. According to reports, 500 to 600 people were waiting in line at 8 a.m. when the temporary store opened.