Apparel

ShopRunner in partnership with Alipay for U.S. retailers
Mateo, Calif. -- ShopRunner announced a new partnership with Alipay which will pave the way for Chinese online shoppers to buy directly from U.S. retailers’ ecommerce sites. Alipay is China's leading e-payments provider and is widely used by hundreds of millions of Chinese online shoppers.
Columbia Sportswear opens store dedicated to performance fishing gear
Alpharetta, Ga. -- Columbia Sportswear Company opened its first-ever store dedicated to its performance fishing gear (PFG) at the Avalon Mall in Alpharetta, Ga. Columbia’s PFG collection is inspired by the performance, style and comfort needs of professional and recreational anglers of all ages. The 3,176-sq.-ft. store has a clean design, boutique feel and digital integration that includes an interactive knot-tying station.

Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods To Open on May 21, 2015

Mashantucket, Conn. -- Foxwoods Resort Casino announced that the grand opening of the new Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods will be held on May 21, 2015.
Simon breaks ground on Tucson Premium Outlets

Marana, Ariz. -- Simon broke ground Thursday on Tucson Premium Outlets in Marana, Arizona. The multi-million dollar project will feature more than 90 retailers, and is slated to open fall 2015.
Kate Spade, Lululemon opening at Highland Village

Jackson, Miss. -- Kate Spade New York and Lululemon Athletica are both opening their first permanent Mississippi locations, as Chestnut Hill, Mass.-based WS Development announced the retailers’ grand opening plans at Highland Village in Jackson, Miss.
Redmond Town Center announces Guitar Center launch

Redmond, Wash. -- Guitar Center and four additional new retailers and restaurants are slated to open at Redmond Town Center, in Redmond, Wash., later this year and into next spring.
JLL adds retail expertise in San Francisco Bay area

San Francisco--JLL announced that it has expanded its retail brokerage practice in Northern California with the addition of Jamie Kendall as VP. Kendall will be based in the firm’s San Francisco office, and will partner with the firm’s existing retail, agency leasing and investment sales teams to help maximize the value of retail assets for JLL’s growing client base in downtown San Francisco.
Panera Bread to make debut in Culver City

Los Angeles -- Real estate investment and services firm Kennedy Wilson has negotiated a 10-year retail lease for Panera Bread, the chain’s first location in Culver City, Calif. The 5,100-sq.-ft. property is located at 10990 Jefferson Blvd. within the Studio Village Center.
Topshop opens its largest U.S. store

New York -- British fast-fashion retailer Topshop, a unit of Arcadia Group, opened a flagship on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, close to Rockefeller Center.
Ann Inc. forecasts declining sales; assesses supply chain

New York-- Ann Inc. is forecasting declining sales for the fiscal third and fourth quarter and full year 2014. The company is also launching a comprehensive, end-to-end assessment of its supply chain to identify opportunities to enhance profitability, with a focus on speed, flexibility, improving product sell-through and reducing the cost of goods sold.
BDO USA: Retailers bullish on holiday, cautious on inventory; jobs top concern

Chicago -- The marketing chiefs of U.S. retailers are optimistic about the upcoming holiday season, forecasting a solid 4.1% increase in overall holiday store sales, according to a recent BDO USA survey. The projection is in line with the National Retail Federation’s 4.1% expected holiday sales increase, and is a full percentage point higher than actual retail sales gains in the 2013 season.
Study: Shrink costs U.S. retailers $42 billion; employee theft tops shoplifting

Thorofare, N.J. -- Shrink—including shoplifting, employee or supplier fraud and administrative errors—cost the global retail industry more than $128 billion last year, with $42 billion lost in the United States alone, according to the latest Global Retail Theft Barometer study. This represents 1.29% of retail sales, on average.