Apparel

Saks Fifth Avenue is pulling out all the stops to make its two upcoming stores in Canada true destinations whose attractions extend beyond buying the latest fashions.

The company will open a163,000-sq.-ft. store at Toronto’s Eaton Centre at Queen Street on February 18, 2016, and a 150,000-sq.-ft. location at Sherway Gardens, also in Toronto, on February 25, 2016.

Lululemon Athletica has opened its largest store yet, an 11,500-sq.-ft. flagship in Manhattan. The store includes such new features as a 3,000-sq.-ft. community gathering space, called Hub Seventeen, and concierge services, reports New York Business Journal. [New York Business Journal]

TJX shows no signs of losing its popular appeal with shoppers as the company reported stronger than expected traffic and same-store sales in the third quarter.

For the third quarter ended Oct. 31, same store sales at TJX Companies rose 5.3%. The company said net income fell to $587.3 million, from $595 million a year earlier. On a per share basis, net income rose to 86 cents per share from 85 cents, as the company had fewer shares outstanding. Revenue rose to $7.75 billion from $7.37 billion.

Dollar General is looking to help its customers stretch their budget this holiday season with an updated assortment of toys, as well as digital coupons, hot deals and low prices online and in-store.

Shoppers in select North Face stores will be able to experience winter in Nepal up close and personal.

The retailer, in collaboration with Jaunt Studios, a leading supplier of fully-immersive cinematic virtual reality experiences, is launching a new VR experience titled “The North Face: Nepal.” The content will be available for all smartphone users, and in the company’s stores in San Francisco, New York, and the brand’s new Regent Street location in London.

The off-price wars are heating up in New York City.

Saks Fifth Avenue will open its first Saks Off 5th outlet in New York City, in a 32-story office tower at 125 East 57th Street, in March 2016. The store will feature a lobby entrance at street level, which will access two lower level floors.

“The addition of a new Saks Off 5th store at this strategic location will be a dramatic game changer for 57th Street retail east of Park Avenue,” said Charles S. Cohen, president and CEO of Cohen Brothers Realty Corp., which owns the property.

The influx of new retail into New York City, from brands both familiar and ones new to our shores, continued unabated in 2015. Everyone has their favorites. Here are mine:

Flying Tiger

Macerich announces the recent arrival of several retailers to Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls located in Niagara Falls, New York. New brands include Victoria’s Secret, Kipling, Columbia Sportswear, Mountain Warehouse and Calvin Klein Underwear.

Niagara Falls recent expansion brings the property size to more than 700,000 sq. ft. with a total of 200 stores and 1,100 additional parking spaces near Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH – making Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls one of the largest outlet malls in the country.