Apparel

JCPenney 's renewed focus on omnichannel seems to be improving profitability for the retailer, which reported sales and revenue increases in the second quarter.

The company posted a net loss of $138 million, or 45 cents a share, in the quarter that ended Aug. 1, compared with a loss of $172 million, or 56 cents a share, a year ago. Total sales increased 2.7 percent from $2.80 billion a year ago to $2.89 billion. Same-store sales were up 4.1% and better than results also reported this week from Macy’s, Kohl’s and Dillard’s.

Plano, Texas -- While it’s way too early to start popping the champagne, J.C. Penney Co. has to be pleased about its second quarter financial results, which topped analysts expectations and suggested that the company’s turnaround is in progress.

Nike has made over its Seattle flagship with a more contemporary look and technology that help customers select running shoes that are the perfect match for their feet and gait.

The store features such unique design elements as a custom neon sculpture celebrating sport icons and the city's cultural symbols. An art installation signed by Seattle Seahawks players honors Seattle's sports fans.

Corte Madera, Calif. -- Teens with a hankering for pricey furniture and décor — and affluent parents — will now have a new place to shop.

RH (Restoration Hardware) is launching RH Teen, which will offer “tasteful, high quality” furniture, lighting, linens and décor for teens. Launching in late September, RH Teen will have a own dedicated 200-page catalog (or, in RH lingo, “source book”), website and dedicated retail space in the company’s next generation of stores.

Retail consulting firm McMillanDoolittle, Chicago, weighs in on its blog with three reasons why any retailer using the practice of “on-call” labor scheduling should end it immediately.

Miami – The Related Group is set to transform the Miami suburb of Doral with the massive 600,000 sq. ft. CityPlace Doral. The $800 million mixed-use development components include 240,000 sq. ft. commercial space, 1,000 luxury residential units and Boutique Boulevard -- more than 40 shopping, entertainment and dining venues. Once complete, the project will offer the area’s only walkable luxury shopping plaza.

New York -- Target Corp. is making headlines with its bold, digitally savvy 20-page insert in Vogue. The retailer’s chief creative officer, Todd Waterbury, discussed the new campaign in a Q&A on Target’s Bullseye blog. Here are some excerpts:

What was the inspiration for this idea?

Little Rock, Ark. -- Dillard’s Inc. profit declined 13.3% in the second quarter, but it still came in better than analysts had expected.

Growth in shoes and some apparel categories helped Dillard’s post a feeble second quarter same-store sale increase, but it was too little for the department store retailer to avoid the sharp decline in profitability. The retailer’s profit for the quarter ending Aug. 1 was $29.9 million, down from $34.5 million in the year-ago period.