Apparel

Vera Bradley is adding some deep e-commerce experience from Best Buy to its board of directors.

Kelley has e-commerce, marketing, and strategic planning experience and has served as president, e-commerce for Best Buy since 2014. Prior to joining Best Buy, Kelley served as senior VP, e-commerce for Chico's FAS and held the posts of VP of retail real estate and marketing and VP of e-commerce for L.L. Bean.

A decline in traffic at Jos. A. Banks stores weighed heavily on Men's Wearhouse in the third quarter, forcing the company to consider store closures and job cuts.

Sam Edelman has opened a 2,500-sq.-ft. store at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Designed by Dagnell Folger of Architecture + Information, the store stays true to the Sam Edelman aesthetic with a mix of materials that includes reclaimed wood and raw concrete with rose-colored brass and black leather.

Hints of the brand’s signature shade of green provide a pop of color. Vintage furniture pieces — curated by Sam Edelman himself — are mixed throughout for a personal touch.

New York -- Time Equities acquired four Wisconsin multi-tenant retail assets for $18.1 million, spanning 307,668 sq. ft. in total. The acquisitions, consisting of two separate transactions, include The Geneva Commons purchased for $1.3 million, in addition to Oak Creek Centre, Park Plaza and Taylor Heights acquired for $16.8 million.

The 127-year old family owned Belk department store chain is family owned no more, although one of the founder’s descendants remains in place as CEO.

The private equity firm Sycamore Partners completed its previously announced acquisition of the 296 unit Belk chain on Dec. 10, thus beginning a new chapter for what had been the nation’s oldest privately held department store retailer.

Angela Ahrendts, senior VP of retail for Apple and former CEO of Burberry, is taking a more luxe approach in some of the company’s retail stores. “The stores are the best physical manifestation of the brand,” Jan Dawson, an analyst at Jackdaw Research, told the New York Times. “Angela is bringing her sensibility to that experience.” [New York Times]

Lyndhurst, N.J. -- Ripco Real Estate Corp. announced David Townes has joined its New Jersey office sales team. Prior to joining Ripco Townes worked at Welco Realty for five years where he represented a combination of landlords and retail tenants. One of his many strengths and areas of expertise includes assisting retailers looking to expand in the New Jersey and Rockland County, New York areas.

Kay Jewelers is looking to leverage social media and gamification to better engage with shoppers this holiday season.

From now through Dec. 20, visitors to Kay Jewelers' social media channels will be encouraged to participate in an interactive holiday-themed memory match game for a chance to win jewelry prizes. Fans can enter the Merry Match sweepstakes for a chance to win a prize from the featured daily collection by visiting KayMerryMatch.com, registering and playing the game. One winner will be selected each day and will receive a piece of jewelry.