Apparel

Sears Canada reaches out to Target Canadian employees
Toronto – Sears Canada is reaching out to Target’s Canadian employees. The retailer is encouraging the 17,600 workers who will likely lose their jobs when Target exits the Canadian market later this year to apply for jobs online.

Sears Canada also plans to host job fairs for soon-to-be-laid-off Target employees across Canada, and will host a meet-and-greet for Target Canada head office employees with senior executives and HR experts at its corporate headquarters on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
Bon-Ton posts 5.3% rise in sales; CFO to exit
Holiday discounts helped Bon-Ton Stores post a robust increase in same-store sales.

The company said same-store sales for the nine-week holiday period ended Jan. 3 increased 5.3%. Total sales for the combined months of November and December were up 3.8%, the company said.

Kathryn Bufano, president and CEO, said the company was “pleased” with the numbers, but that a “highly promotional sales environment” tempered the impact of those improved sales on Bon-Ton’s profits.

Walmart elevates exec to omnichannel role

With retail executive titles becoming increasingly exotic, credit Walmart for coming up with an unusual sounding title for a position that other retailers might describe as chief omnichannel officer.
White House Black Market opens e-boutique

While House Black Market is taking an innovative approach to attracting more customers by launching an online wedding and event boutique.

The online boutique hopes to take the guesswork out of shopping for an event outfit by selling specific dresses along with coordinated belts, shoes, and accessories, making it super easy for shoppers to put together a cohesive look for that big wedding or gala.
RILA adds more firepower to board

(L-R) Target's Brian Cornell and Walgreens' Alexander Gourlay
Kellwood names former Barnes& Noble exec as CEO

New York -- Apparel manufacturer and retailer Kellwood has named Joseph Lombardi, the former CFO of Barnes & Noble, as CEO.

Lombardi joined Kellwood as CFO in 2013, and has three decades of retail experience across a variety of sectors, including apparel.
Glendale Marketplace announces new tenants

Glendale, Calif. -- Cypress Equities companies announced that LA Fitness, Buffalo Wild Wings and AT&T will open at Glendale Marketplace in 2015.

"This collection of synergistic new offerings will begin transforming the tenant mix at Glendale Marketplace," said Todd Minnis, chief investment officer. "This is the first step toward our redevelopment process."
GBT Realty announces more Alabama retail with the Shoppes of Albertville

Huntsville, Ala. -- GBT Realty Corporation announced even more retail development in northern Alabama with The Shoppes of Albertville. Just off the heels of two similar projects recently announced in the regional market, GBT is developing an $18 million, 135,000-square foot retail center along Albertville’s primary commercial corridor. The company acquired the 13.2 acres on Dec. 29 and construction is currently underway.
Cypress Equities breaks ground on new park project

Spanish Fort, Ala. -- Dallas-based Cypress Equities has officially broken ground on a 3.5-acre park project, at Spanish Fort Town Center, in Spanish Fort, Alabama. The park is part of a major site enhancement plan, which also comprises upgraded building facades, a freshly designed sign package, along with new store and restaurant offerings.
Retail sales expected to rise 4.5% in 2015, according to Kantar Retail

New York -- The outlook for the retail industry looks bright, with lower prices at the pump and decreasing unemployment boding well for consumer spending. Retail sales are expected to rise 4.5% in 2015, which is about one percentage point stronger than 2014 growth, according to a report by Kantar Retail, whose analysis excludes automobile dealers, and gas and food service.
Wet Seal files Chapter 11

Foothill Ranch, Calif. – In a move that was somewhat expected, The Wet Seal Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The move comes a week after the struggling teen retailer said it was closing 338 of its stores, leaving it with approximately 173 stores nationwide.

“After careful consideration, the Board of Directors unanimously concluded that filing for Chapter 11 was the appropriate course of action for the Company,” said CEO Ed Thomas.
Omnichannel retailers get TIPP from standards group

Inventory visibility is a prerequisite for retailers executing omnichannel strategies, which is why RFID is enjoying a resurgence and something called the Tagged Item Performance Protocol holds great promise.

Inventory visibility has always been important in retail, but never more so than today when retailers of all types are looking to execute omnichannel strategies that involve ship from store and return to store capabilities. Omnichannel creates all sorts of new supply chain challenges that make it more difficult to keep tabs on inventory.