Apparel

Leading European apparel retailer Primark is so confident its brand of fast fashion will appeal to American shoppers it has leased a 677,000-sq.-ft. distribution center to support its new stores opening this month.

The first Primark store opens on Sept. 10 in Boston and will be followed by a second opening in November at the King of Prussia mall in Philadelphia. Six additional openings are planned before year end in Burlington and Braintree, Mass., Danbury, Conn., Freehold, N.J., Willow Grove, Pa. and Staten Island.

The founder and chairman of U.K.-based online luxury retailer Net-a-Porter has unexpectedly resigned from the company ahead of a merger with another e-commerce group.

London – Natalie Massenet, founder and chairman of U.K.-based online luxury retailer Net-a-Porter, unexpectedly resigned from the company just as it looks to become a global powerhouse.

The former fashion journalist is leaving as Net-a-Porter, which she launched in 2000, prepares to be purchased from Swiss parent company Richemont by Italian e-commerce retailer Yoox. The merger will create the world’s largest luxury e-commerce group.

Nashville, Tenn. – Despite a late back to school season, Genesco Inc.’s profit and revenue beat the Street in the second quarter, helped by the strong performance of its Lids headgear division.

Genesco reported net earnings of $7.52 million, up 60% from $4.69 million the same period a year earlier and beyond Wall Street predictions. Improve pretax earnings, combined with lower income tax expense, perked up profit at Genesco Inc.

Net sales rose 6% to $655.52 million, from $615.47 million.

Fueled in part by increased pharmacy sales, Fred’s reported Thursday that its August sales hit $165.6 million this year, up 12% over August 2014.

Dodgeville, Wis. – The second quarter was nothing short of a fiscal landslide for Lands’ End as the specialty retailer posted its third straight disappointing quarter. Revenue fell 10% and profit was down by more than a third.

“The results that we are sharing today do not represent the true potential of our company,” Federica Marchionni, president and CEO, told analysts during a conference call.

The CEO of Genesco Inc. says the company had strong sales despite the later start to the back-to-school season and some pressures to right-size inventories.

Internet retailers entering the physical space continues to be a growing trend, if the new Sole Society store in Santa Monica, Calif., is any indication.

The company opened the doors to its first brick-and-mortar retail store at Santa Monica Place this week. Launched in 2011, the Los Angeles-based online footwear brand kicked up buzz by delivering stylish $100-and-under shoes directly to consumers' doors.