Apparel

Christopher & Banks Corp. has hired Epicor to lead its efforts to develop an omnichannel "customer first" strategy.

Cabela’s is growing its Canadian operations once again with a new store in British Columbia. 

Cabela’s could begin construction in Abbotsford, B.C., this year, and could open in fall 2016. The proposed store site is located at 1880 McCallum Road in the newly planned McCallum Junction development off Exit 90 of Trans-Canada Highway 1. McCallum Junction Properties Inc. is the developer.

Sellers of opening price point apparel may find themselves at odds with outdoor lifestyle brand Patagonia, which has embarked on a coast-to-coast tour to encourage people to repair their clothes rather than buy new.

New York -- Investment firm TowerBrook Capital Partners is acquiring women’s apparel retailer J. Jill, which operates some 250 stores nationwide. TowerBrook is buying the company from Investment firm Arcapita and private equity firm Golden Gate Capital.  

In a statement, J. Jill CEO Paula Bennett noted that the retailer has just completed its best sales year in history and 12 quarters of consecutive growth.

Austin, Texas -- Christopher & Banks Corp. has selected Epicor Retail solutions (from Epicor Software Corp.) to streamline operations and support its omnichannel "customer first" strategy.

The retailer plans to leverage a broad solution set that includes Epicor QuantiSense retail business intelligence and analytics and Epicor ShopVisible order management and digital commerce solutions.

New York -- There’s been a change at the top at Saks Fifth Avenue. On Thursday, Saks parent company Hudson’s Bay Company announced that company veteran Marc Metrick, 41, is replacing Marigay McKee as president of Saks Fifth Avenue, effective April 2, 2015. It’s a return of sorts for Metrick, who is HBC’s executive VP and chief administrative officer. He spent the first 15 years of his career at Saks Fifth Avenue, ultimately becoming its chief strategy officer, before joining the leadership team of HBC in 2012 as chief marketing officer.

New York -- Belk Inc., the largest family owned and operated department store chain in the United States, is exploring strategic alternatives. The news was first reported by Reuters on Thursday, and was confirmed later in the day by the retailer in a statement issued to media outlets.
 

Grand Rapids. Mich. - Meijer will invest nearly $50 million in extensive remodel projects for four supercenters located in Kettering, Miami Township, Englewood and Beavercreek, Ohio.  

Seattle - Nordstrom Inc. has completed a new five-year, $800 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility. The new facility replaces an $800 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility that was scheduled to mature in March 2018.

The revolving credit facility may be used for general corporate purposes and is scheduled to mature in April 2020. At present, there are no outstanding borrowings under the revolver.

Hingham, Mass. – Talbots Inc. has signed an extension to a long-term agreement to continue receiving private label credit card services from Alliance Data Systems Corp. Talbots operates nearly 500 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.